We always know when our nuts are getting ready – when the bears appear. We had a mother bear and two cubs this morning checking out the hazelnut and walnut trees
The mother bear looking for walnuts
Meanwhile, one of the cubs enjoying the hazelnuts
It’s sibling was up in the tree having a great time
As the nuts aren’t ripe yet I had to ask them to leave. We try to pick our produce as it ripens to discourage the bears so it is a bit disheartening when they show up before the nuts are ready. Fortunately there are lots of berries right now and theses guys are looking very healthy. They show up about once a week to see how things are progressing so hopefully they won’t be back for a while. Always wonderful to see though.
Hard-To-Come-By Lifestyle 
Love it when you get your bear visitors π the Cubs are so cute.
The cubs are great – always looking for some sort of trouble to get into. They were very excited last week when they spotted the raspberries behind the wire fence. I had to chase them off before they figured out how to climb over.
Haha you’ll have to save them some for a treat π
The raspberries are all picked – apples will be the next fruit of choice.
We will be moving into the fringe of bear territory. Eric has already spotted a bobcat hanging out over the well house and its calling card (scat) in one spot. I’d really like you know how you politely ask them to leave? I imagine picking the nuts and berries is part of the plan. π
We have the occasional bobcat visit our chickens. They move so fast that the electric fence doesn’t deter them but they can’t get past the wired-in chicken run. Gets the ‘girls’ excited though. These bears are still very people shy. I quietly go out with my camera and try to get my shots but if they even hear the sound of the shutter they are off and running. Once they have posed I will usually give chase and do a bit of shouting to give them an impression that they aren’t welcome. Yes, picking the fruit and nuts is really the only real deterrent. The compost is behind electric fence and the garbage cans are locked up.
Thanks for the advice. I suspect I’ll need to be putting it to use once we’ve moved. For now it’s been mostly work on the house and not much to tempt them outside. Perhaps blackberries, but those are everywhere.
I enjoy this whole scenario, including the conversation with Gunta. Love the idea that the bears stop by to monitor things on their own internal schedule. Glad that, for now at least, there is a good balance between sightings and safety.
I enjoy the bears visiting more than any of the other animals that pass through. Even though I get quite close to them I always make sure I have a quick exit strategy. Black bears can run over 30 mph, I can’t!
It’s called R.E.S.P.E.C.T. !! π
I wish every homeowner were as responsible as you . . . too many bears are getting comfortable around humans and it almost always ends badly for the bears π¦
It is being a bit selfish on our part – we don’t want the bears to tear the house or us apart π There is a scary video news story on CBC today of 3 grizzly bears causing problems on a Pincher Creek, Alberta farm. It makes me glad that we don’t have grizzlies here – they are big!
Definitely! When I encountered a black bear while hiking in Jasper, I was very happy that it wasn’t a grizzly.
Yikes, I just looked up that video. Scary!
Very!