Sunday, September 9, 2012

An Upright Character

Don't you go thinking that only youngster Tehachapi black bears enjoy water sports.

The more seasoned characters like a good dip, too.

This one even got up to sample the aromatherapy I'd dabbed on the overhead branches.

black bear

black bear

black bear

black bear

black bear

Hmmm... Light-feet and wearing a tux all the time. Must be Fred Astaire Bear. I believe this is a male, too. The cameras have caught this character several times over the last 2 years, and since no cubs were ever with - I'm edu-guessing younger male (but could easily be wrong).

black bear

black bear

black bear

black bear

black bear

black bear

Dance over, Fred dropped back down into the waterin' hole.

black bear

black bear

But then decided he wanted a little privacy...

black bear

black bear

black bear

Once again - Bears.

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11 comments:

  1. He is agile. It is great that you are following these animals over several years and can add further information to their behavior in that way.

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  2. What a great series of pics. That shot of him with the water dribbling down his chin is priceless!

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  3. That is the life, just wallowing around in a stream. Looks like great fun.
    A great series of photos.

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  4. Replies
    1. Yep. Pulled the 3-foot post out of the ground at the base of a tree, where it was pounded in solidly and bungied to the tree for stability and extra anti-bear strength. The bungies were snapped, and the cam was lying face up near the water hole. That last photo is its view of the overhead canopy after the assault. Night birds and bats trigger them when they end up like that. Ah, bears. :)

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    2. Do you think some of your "aromatherapy" gets on your cams, hence the regular bear pummeling? A research vehicle I once used attracted gypsy moths by the droves a whole 5-6 years after small amounts of pheromones had been carried in it for only 2 field seasons. There may be no washing the scent of your equipment.

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    3. That is definitely a problem we cam trappers try to avoid, but it is pretty much impossible wrt bears. They hear, see and smell the cams no matter what you do (even perfectly clean the cam has a scent), and then their incredible curiosity takes over. Sans spikey bear guards, you just have to make them sturdy and hope the bears give them a break long enough for a good set. And they do - I've only had about a 1/2 dozen cams out of the 50 sets to-date broken off the post or pulled from the ground. And all still worked. So, it's part of the fun.

      Btw - the above goes for elephants too!

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    4. (Can't find a way to e-mail you easily...)
      Just to curious to know your thoughts on this:
      http://massanuttengametrails.blogspot.com/2013/08/bears.html

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    5. Oh, and re: elephants (just for fun): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBrmaE82uY4

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    6. Good stuff Katie. As for an email - you can find my address at the bottom of my description in the right-hand column.

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  5. Great shots Ken and a nice story,.
    D

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