Big Momma and cubs

Berry was a camera ham!

Really cool shots. Definitely leave the window in there. I actually wish it were more obvious. And very happy that she was in a good mood too.

I'd love to see the full size image with all the detail!! Do you have a link?

Awesome shots and I probably would have jumped from the front seat clear out the passenger window if I would have seen that bear that close

Bill634 wrote in post #8096630
Nice pics Karl. I'm noticing that the sow has brown patches over her eyes and I'm wondering if that is a regional characteristic or age related. I've never noticed any black bears around here with that marking. I haven't seen too many live ones at close range...at least not for long enough to study their markings but I've seen a lot of dead ones and I think they're all black except for the snout and sometimes a white chest blaze.

Actually that's pretty unique, I noticed that too. I wondered why it was slightly browner around the face. A lot of the black bears in this region are solid-jet black through and through. Now that I compare her to a few other shots I have of other bears, her face looks differently structured and fuller. I wonder why.

There have been reports of a brown/blonde cinnamon bear in the area, which are rare. There has also been a sighting of an albino black bear.

Thanks for the comments, all. I'll upload a 100% crop of 'berry's eye for the detailed shot.
edit: 100% crop uploaded, check first post.

Karl Johnston wrote in post #8091207
I was talking with a friend, last night, about this image and this story. He told me to be extremely careful around black bears; they are far more dangerous than grizzlies.

I always thought of them as being the more mellow type of bear but I was told that a grizzly's behavior is predictable and ferocious; if you play dead, though, they may lose interest as they are territorial predators.

Black bears on the other hand, are stalk-and-kill in the same way that wolves are. They protect their young a lot more closely and they can follow you for days on end if they're looking to eat you or get revenge.

Kind of creepy when I see these shots now about how close I was to this bear without thinking it was so dangerous.

Good Day Karl:

With all due respect to your encounter and wonderful photos it is obvious that there is a great amount of misinformation about black bears stated in this thread. Look at the web site of Dr. Lynn Rogers, one of the leading authorities on North American Black bears.

http://www.bearstudy.o​rg/website/

Or this publication by Ben Kilmer, I've met him. He's really incredible.

http://www.wildlife.st​ate.nh.us …s/WJ_b01_Bears_​Kilham.pdf

Those two gentlemen are two of the most knowledgeable authorities on Black Bears in the world. Go over their information in detail before stating "facts" about black bears.

A lot of the things that are being stated on this thread are down right just not correct, with all due respect to those that state them. I'm not going to get into an argument here trying to prove the real facts. However many things said hear are just not accurate. How do I know this? Several reason & I'll just name a couple. One I grew up in the woods of northern NH & have been around bears all my life. Second I am an outdoor guide and deal with bears on almost a daily basis, below is my website. Now I'm not saying that you should try and treat them as pets, they are after all wild animals which can always be unpredictable and always should be treated with respect.

http://www.northerngui​deservices.com/index.h​tml

If after reading the information and some one want to trash the obvious facts go right ahead, it is not worth my time to argue over facts I know to be correct and personal experiences that have taught me the ways to live in the outdoors for more than 50yrs. I only want to put forth information that will help accurately educate people about the outdoors and our relationship within it. Hopefully the membership here can learn more about these things and use that information to take better photos of their subject matter.

I admit that I have a lot to learn about digital photography, and that is why I am here, but the one thing I do know about is my environment and how to coexist in it without much disturbance to it.

I hope that the information provided is helpful to any that take the time to educate themselves with it.

May we all have a fantastic day in Gods Great Outdoors!!!

Fact is.these above mentioned folks STUDY the bears.which is great, and they have the time to learn the body languages and nuances of each individual member of a group.
This is not the case when 99% of photographers are "happening" upon a bear, and snap some shots off..trying to figure out what they just ate and where they are heading is not uppermost in ones mind.

I appreciate people who can manage to take time and make Study of Animals their Career.

I have lived in the bush for years as well.and I know what Not to do to protect myself and respect the bear.

Every area is also different.wild bears that have been in the mountains etc act very differently than the generations of garbage bears there are in hundreds of rural areas.

All mannerisms are taught and learned, not always instinctual.

All very good points Flo and a valuable additional information. Because of people like two gentlemen in addition to my own personal experience that is why I can say what I say. However the fact does remain that Black Bears are not Grizzly's. For instance if in fact you are attacked by a black bear You should stand and fight because they are usually attaching for predation not defense. There are always exception to any rule. You might want to read Dr. Stephen Herrero's Book Bear Attacks, Their Causes & Avoidance. He is/was a Professor of Environmental Science and Biology at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is recognized thought the world as a leading authority on bear ecology, behavior and attacks.

I am not advocating a cavalier attitude towards bears. In fact just the opposite, always be vigilent, but not scared. I have dealt with both habituated and non-habituated black bears in my time around towns and in the woods. A person has do deal with both types differently in any given situation. Even then I have yet to meet any black bears that I have ever felt the need to back down from and that does include sows with cubs that I have come between. Part of it is knowing and understanding you subject of interest, behavior, and reading body language etc. Which I would advise any person to do before they do decide to undertaking a project of photographing in the wilds. Know what you getting into before you get someplace where you are not able to deal with.

As you say Flo with the average Photographer who runs into a bear by accident some place, they usually do not have the luxury of experience and should ere on the side of caution. That is only smart & prudent. It is also smart not to over react!!!

Have a Phenomenal Day in Gods Great Outdoors.

I had a mama bear come right up to my truck window (rolled up of course) in Cades Cove a couple years ago.
Some cars had stopped in front of me, so I had to stop also. She walked right up to the driverside window and was looking in.
Really a wild feeling to be so close.

Iguide wrote in post #8284426
. . . it is obvious that there is a great amount of misinformation about black bears stated in this thread.

Yes, there is. Unfortunately, there is a great amount of misinformation about bears everywhere.

Most of the folks spreading this type of mis-info are people who have very little (if any) personal experience with wild bears. I tend to believe the people who have had many encounters with bears in the wild, and have learned their behavior and tendencies.

Thanks for sharing the links, Iguide

There's some great advice in this thread ! Thanks for the info all!

Sorry for spreading the mis-info, just what I was told by my friend I don't know if they are facts or his experiences or what have you...sorry for offending anyone by the misinformation not my intention. I suppose it's safe to assume that anything you read on the web could be a bit skewed, in general, though.

RavenG wrote in post #8286173
I had a mama bear come right up to my truck window (rolled up of course) in Cades Cove a couple years ago.
Some cars had stopped in front of me, so I had to stop also. She walked right up to the driverside window and was looking in.
Really a wild feeling to be so close.

Sweet isn't it!!

I agree Iguide! Prudence is the ounce of prevention!

Tom Reichner
Thank you and you are most welcome. Like your work. I find animals and nature to be a very inspirational connection for me. I would dare suspect you have something similar. I would be willing to venture we could have many a long discussion on such subjects


]Karl Johnston

Absolutely no offense was ever taken. I saw it a "teaching" opportunity, and hoped it would be accepted as such. I do this quite often with groups I lead and in classes I teach. I just was not sure how it would be accepted. I'm a bit sorry that it may have appeared that from what I wrote seemed that way to you. Some information can be and I'm sure is skewed. However that is not always a given. For instance I have found that much of the information and advise I have found and received here at POTN has been very helpful.

You have an enjoyable site, & nice work . Perhaps a spiritual connection? Personally I find the out of doors to be the first "church" at least for me.


Flo

Thanks for the support. It is very much appreciated.


I would like to thank you all for your kind words. This community certainly appears different from many online communities. So often when new to a forum the "newbie" is not very well accepted. That has certainly not been the case here. I would like to return the favor if I can. Since I am still so new to this modern "digital" age I am quite the neophyte. However since the area of the outdoors is my profession, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about things out there. While I am a professional I am not an expert and will try to help the best that I can, with what our lord has seen fit to bless me with.

May we all have an exceptional day in God's Great Outdoors!!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
A black bear,
"WILL"
eat you alive,,,seriously,
untill you bleed out, or pass out,

A grizzly will not,
thats why playing "dead" gets them to back off,
they leave there kill to ripen,

im up in alaska now,
ive heard the "stories" from the locals,
and a bush pilot,

NO BULL,,,

Karl Johnston wrote in post #8091207
I was talking with a friend, last night, about this image and this story. He told me to be extremely careful around black bears; they are far more dangerous than grizzlies.

I always thought of them as being the more mellow type of bear but I was told that a grizzly's behaviour is predictable and ferocious; if you play dead, though, they may lose interest as they are territorial predators.

Black bears on the other hand, are stalk-and-kill in the same way that wolves are. They protect their young a lot more closely and they can follow you for days on end if they're looking to eat you or get revenge.

Kind of creepy when I see these shots now about how close I was to this bear without thinking it was so dangerous.