Out standing in his Field

The grass is getting long in this field, known locally as a bear field. It took a few tries to find this guy as he kept ducking down into the long grass and moving around; it was like trying to hit a whack a mole. I finally got one shot.

very nice.
being a foreigner and unused to your wild animals I can only assume there's a relative safety level with this beauty?
I could envisage a stampede and it heading in your direction smelling FOOD!!!

Love the photo though, very nice indeed.

"Me want MEAT!"

the bear

avondale87 wrote in post #18887632
very nice.
being a foreigner and unused to your wild animals I can only assume there's a relative safety level with this beauty?
I could envisage a stampede and it heading in your direction smelling FOOD!!! Love the photo though, very nice indeed.

Thanks very much Richard, I appreciate the comments. One must be cautious around bears, although in general they are timid and will run the other way if one makes a loud noise. That comment though must be tempered if there are babies in the mother's company. A mother bear will do everything and anything to protect her cubs, and one must never, ever get between them. This pic was taken from the safety of my car window, I always act on the side of safety.

rwmson wrote in post #18887635
"Me want MEAT!"

the bear

LOL, in general, not the case. Black bears come out of hibernation around the same time as the grasses are growing and turning green. They eat grass until there are berries available. This guy (or girl) was literally in heaven in this huge field of lush sweet green grass. To be honest I really don't know how strong a taste they have for a meat meal.

Wallace River wrote in post #18887627
The grass is getting long in this field, known locally as a bear field. It took a few tries to find this guy as he kept ducking down into the long grass and moving around; it was like trying to hit a whack a mole. I finally got one shot.

Hosted photo: posted by Wallace River in
./showthread.php?p=188​87627&i=i168202040
forum: Wildlife

That is a wall-hanger. Absolutely stunning image !

Wallace River wrote in post #18887627
The grass is getting long in this field, known locally as a bear field. It took a few tries to find this guy as he kept ducking down into the long grass and moving around; it was like trying to hit a whack a mole. I finally got one shot.

Hosted photo: posted by Wallace River in
./showthread.php?p=188​87627&i=i168202040
forum: Wildlife

You may have had to wait a while, but you DID get a most wonderful shot! I totally agree, it is a wall hanger!

Love it, Ian. I always love getting the shots with these things that catch the flies that tend to accompany them...I don't think most people understand just how these guys *smell*

Wallace River wrote in post #18887729
Thanks very much Richard, I appreciate the comments. One must be cautious around bears, although in general they are timid and will run the other way if one makes a loud noise. That comment though must be tempered if there are babies in the mother's company. A mother bear will do everything and anything to protect her cubs, and one must never, ever get between them. This pic was taken from the safety of my car window, I always act on the side of safety.

LOL, in general, not the case. Black bears come out of hibernation around the same time as the grasses are growing and turning green. They eat grass until there are berries available. This guy (or girl) was literally in heaven in this huge field of lush sweet green grass. To be honest I really don't know how strong a taste they have for a meat meal.

I'll also add that, like any other animals you may be observing, they have pretty clear behaviors that you simply need to watch for; alert poses/stances, chuffing and other signs of caution or agitation that aren't subtle. As long as you're not between them and their young or encroaching on a feeding area, etc they're relatively non-aggressive to people (for an apex predator); so cautious observation is reasonably safe. Always keeping the fact that they can move up to 35mph, and from a standing start at the top of your mind will help gauge your "safe" distance a bit, too

Nicely done Ian, he's on the lookout for something....

Gregsiem wrote in post #18887731
That is a wall-hanger. Absolutely stunning image !

Thanks Greg, much appreciated.

Inspeqtor wrote in post #18887732
You may have had to wait a while, but you DID get a most wonderful shot! I totally agree, it is a wall hanger!

Thanks Dan.

Snydremark wrote in post #18887747
Love it, Ian. I always love getting the shots with these things that catch the flies that tend to accompany them...I don't think most people understand just how these guys *smell*

I'll also add that, like any other animals you may be observing, they have pretty clear behaviors that you simply need to watch for; alert poses/stances, chuffing and other signs of caution or agitation that aren't subtle. As long as you're not between them and their young or encroaching on a feeding area, etc they're relatively non-aggressive to people (for an apex predator); so cautious observation is reasonably safe. Always keeping the fact that they can move up to 35mph, and from a standing start at the top of your mind will help gauge your "safe" distance a bit, too

Thanks Eric, and I agree on all of your points!

budcam wrote in post #18887772
Nicely done Ian, he's on the lookout for something....

Thanks Dan, for all I know it was a female with cubs that were down in the deep grass - another good reason to giver her the right of way .

Very nice, indeed, Ian. Black Bear can sometimes be tough to get a good shot of; they're so blasted black for one thing and they're awfully hairy, making a good focus tough. You did well here, though.

CDMOOSE wrote in post #18888111
Very nice, indeed, Ian. Black Bear can sometimes be tough to get a good shot of; they're so blasted black for one thing and they're awfully hairy, making a good focus tough. You did well here, though.

Thanks Al, nice to hear from you! Actually the toughest part of managing this one was the glare from the bright green grass in the late afternoon sun.

Nice one Ian.

John

johnohio wrote in post #18894283
Nice one Ian.

John

Thanks John, much appreciated.