Bear Opportunity

[Brian Tilley]

For the past two nights, I have had a bear come through my backyard, probably attracted by the bird feeders in the garden.

I haven't actually seen it yet, but it has been spotted in the neighborhood, and not many other critters would totally destroy the feeders and metal support poles the way this guy did.


I'd love to get a good picture or two before it moves on or hibernates for the winter.

My questions will reveal how little I know about photography, but here goes:


How do I go about getting good pictures of the bear at night, assuming it comes back?

I've had some success using the remote capture software (set to automatically take shots at set intervals) to catch good shots of birds during the day, but what about at night?

Is there an easy way to use a motion detector to activate the camera?

Really dumb question:
Do I HAVE To use the flash?
Are the higher ISO settings enough to get decent shots at night without a flash?

Any reasonable advice would be appreciated.

[yallcome]

Dunno nuttin' 'bout bears, but be careful

From today:

Alaska bear mauling kills grizzly advocate, friend

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct 7 (Reuters) - An advocate of grizzly bear protection and his camping companion were mauled to death by one or more bears in a remote part of Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve, officials said on Tuesday.

Killed were Timothy Treadwell, 46, and Amie Huguenard, 37, both of Malibu, California, said the National Park Service and the Alaska State Troopers.

Treadwell was the founder of Grizzly People, an organization devoted to the protection of grizzly bears and their habitat. According to the group's Web site, Treadwell's practice was to travel to bear country without weapons.

It was the first fatal bear attack in Katmai for at least 15 years, the Park Service said. The park is known as one of the world's premier sites for viewing huge brown bears, the coastal cousins of grizzlies, as they feast on salmon.

The deaths were discovered when an air-taxi pilot flew to the site on Monday afternoon to pick up the campers. He found the campsite damaged and a brown bear atop what appeared to be a human body, eating the remains.

When park rangers and state troopers flew to the remote site to recover the bodies, they had to kill two aggressive bears that were threatening them, officials said.

The Park Service has closed the area to visitors and is investigating the deaths.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Treat bears with the respect that they deserve.
They are simply one of the most powerfull creatures on the planet.

[phili1]

Brian ther is such a thing as a trip sensor. You can find it at B& H Phot and video

web site http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home

It works on an infared beam and when something breaks the beam it fies the Camera. All you need other then the Camera and trip sensor is a strong flas set up. BUt with Bears you have to put it up high or he will swat it. He may even climb to get it, if he gets curieous. You take a chance when you photo them.

[civis]

CyberDyneSystems wrote:
Treat bears with the respect that they deserve.
They are simply one of the most powerfull creatures on the planet.

Yep, I think some people watch "Born Free" one too many times and forget that an large predator is indeed a large predator, and that person looks like a meal to that big furry thing wlking around.

Just beause you're on the bear's side doesn't mean the bear is on your side.

[dtrayers]

Maybe it's because I had a little too much Beaujolais tonight:


A Russian scientist and a Czechoslovakian scientist had spent their whole lives studying the majestic grizzly bear. Each year they petitioned their respective governments to allow them to go to Yellowstone to study these wondrous beasts.

Finally, their request was granted and they immediately flew to New York and then on west to Yellowstone. They reported to the local ranger station and were told that it was the grizzly mating season and it was much too dangerous to go out and study the animals.

They pleaded that this was their only chance. Finally the ranger relented. The Russian and the Czech were given cell phones and told to report in each and every day.

For several days they called in, and then nothing was heard from the two scientists. The rangers mounted a search party and found the scientists' camp completely ravaged. No sign of the missing men.

They then followed the trail of a male and a female bear. They found the female and decided they must kill the animal to find out if she had eaten the scientists because they feared an international incident.

They killed the female and cut open the bear's stomach… only to find the remains of the Russian.

One ranger turned to the other and said, "You know what this means, don't you?"

"Of course," the other ranger nodded. "The Czech is in the male."

[Anarchist86ed]

Try photographing squirells. I do and it frustrating and almost impossible but a little food goes a long way. :)

Bears are dangerous...