Aug 06-11

Past-E-Mail: Cam Notes - 2011: August: Aug 06-11
Scene of the crime    ...scroll down to share comments
Photos by Bill Haller
Fallen brick    ...scroll down to share comments
Photos by Bill Haller
Up to the balcony    ...scroll down to share comments
Photos by Bill Haller
Claw mark    ...scroll down to share comments
Photos by Bill Haller


By
Mary Drew at Pasty Central (Mdrew) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 07:03 am:

Bill and Eloise Haller recently had some unwelcome visitors during the wee hours of the morning. The following is Bill's account of the event:


Quote:

Along about three in the morning, we both awoke to a noise and the motion sensor light on; I’m thinking that Rocky Raccoon is making his almost nightly visit under the sunflower feeder.
Eloise said that she thought she’d heard clawing, while I thought that Rocky had yanked the chain on the baby swing. A few seconds later, I went to the window only to see a departing rump fading out of range of the light. I commented that it looked more like a baby bear, than the stag male raccoon that normally visits …

Back to la-la land.

Under closer inspection in the morning, we noted a dislodged paver brick from under a deck support pillar and a few minor scratches in the column paint, low enough to be from a bear cub. Our question was that it was awful early in the season for a cub to be alone; they normally stay with the mother quite a while – oh well, possibly an orphan.

Then, I looked higher ........ We did have mama bear along with baby bear; she got at least one claw up, approaching the deck. Kind of hard to see, but there's a hanging feeder up top, just off the hand railing - the object of her affection, we figure. Around front, we discovered the bird feeders were down and smashed.

Bears normally don't start "chowing down" for hibernation until fall - is this an omen of an early winter?



Now that, I'd have to say, was a close call. As for Bill's last line and question... I sure hope not!
By
Donna (Donna) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 07:24 am:

It was snack time...and sunflower seeds are a snack!


By Thomas Baird (Thomas) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 07:34 am:

I was going to say it was a raccoon.


By Alex "UP-Goldwinger" (Alex) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 07:40 am:

Looks like a close call with a bear, or maybe a burglar who needs his nails clipped?


By Janie T. (Bobbysgirl) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 07:49 am:

Did you get his license plate number?


By Uncle Chuck (Unclechuck) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 07:52 am:

Make them a blueberry pie for desert.


By Richard L. Barclay (Notroll) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 08:00 am:

They are getting more blueberries than I am from the sign on the road - and I don't mean a blueberries for sale sign, either. I think it's a myth that bears do it in the woods from what my dog and I find on the roadway.


By Gary W. Long (Gary_in_co) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 08:57 am:

See what happens when people feed bears? They're not so cute now, are they.


By Alex "UP-Goldwinger" (Alex) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 09:21 am:

JT...bears don't need plates in MI...DNR rules.

I had some excitement at my house yesterday evening, as well. I was working on my truck in the garage and I noticed a couple of shady looking characters casing the house across the street and I new that the neighbors where out of town. They are an elderly couple who does missionary work for their church and they are currently in South America. So I got down behind my truck and kept an eye on these two when all of a sudden, they broke in the front door and starting taking televisions, computers, anything they could get their hands on. Then, as I was crouched down behind my truck, I came to the shocking realization that “Man, I really need some new tires!”


By Shirley Waggoner (Shirlohio) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 11:53 am:

Well, Alex, you had me goin' there for a minute 'til you told what the 'burglers' were taking out of your neighbors' house......then I knew your "rubber wasn't hittin' the road"!;-) Bears are like some folks...better when they keep their distance!


By Richard Wieber (Dickingrayling) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 02:13 pm:

Alex----Your nose is getting much longer!!


By Eddyfitz (Eddyfitz) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 02:30 pm:

bad news. a few days ago we spoke of the deer and fawns in the daily picture. Well one of the 3 babies I saw that day is now laying on the side of the road here in Flat Rock. Didnt make it with the weekend traffic going fishing,drag racing and softball leagues.


By sometimesyooper (Nancyd) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 03:42 pm:

I have never seen bear scat like this year and all of it full of blueberries. AND all on our little road, not in the woods. Geez. I am sorry about the little fawn. I wish people could slow down.


By Janie T. (Bobbysgirl) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 06:24 pm:

Down the road from our home is a fawn that met a car. Slowing down would not have been any kind of prevention. This little one was hit during the night hours. Don't see them til they are in your headlights.


By Capt. Paul (Eclogite) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 07:52 pm:

By Mary Drew at Pasty Central (Mdrew) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 07:03 am:
Bill and Eloise Haller recently had some unwelcome visitors...


Whew!! and here I thought you were talking about the Dr. and I when we visited the Hallers recently.... ;-)


By Alex "UP-Goldwinger" (Alex) on Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 09:29 pm:

Well, I did buy some new tires today, a set of 4 Michelins. While I was there I decided on a new set of chrome rims as well, which proves the old adage...don't go buying car parts on an empty stomach.


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