a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.

[cbalvino]

I think the raccoons were cousins of your rescue,probably stopped to say THANKS!

[itchysquid]

Wow! Wouldn't the bears attack you????

[jimpierce7]

Originally Posted by itchysquid

Wow! Wouldn't the bears attack you????

black bears aren't very brave. I could get with in 5 to 10 feet of the bear and as soon as I raise the camera they were peeling paw to run away. Don't think I would want to corner one though.

[itchysquid]

Ahhh well there you go! I always assumed they were ferocious; really really cute, but ferocious!

[kathleen]

Hey, thanks for the laugh. I really thought you did piss off of the bear nation and was so relieve to find out it was the kin of one you saved just comin' by to say thanks. What a wonderful world.

[ROYJOY]

yur so funny. keep it coming.

[tweet52]

Very very nice pictures.I love looking at them all and I do mean looking at them,wouldnt want to have been there to see bears.... no way.The Buck was just wonderful!

[Buteo]

Again, great pics Jim....
That's quite the collection of larger North American wildlife you've seen this trip.

One word of warning though;
People see them in national parks and consider Black Bears large but clownish natural pests.
Don't let that fool you into downplaying the danger that can be posed by them. That's a situation in which Complacency kills!

Yes, for the most part they will run when you approach or ignore you. However due to increased pressures on their food supplies, some turn to actively hunting anything they think they can conquer. Unfortunately, humans fall into that category.

You and your lady are a great couple of folks & I'd really be horrified to hear anything bad happened to ya. Trying to get pics of a Momma bear with cubs is one of the most dangerous situations you could ever get into - and yours occurred at night. ((Do you realize that quadrupled the chances of a bad outcome?))

I don't doubt for a second your judgement, but please, my friend - be careful!!
NEVER, EVER forget they're still apex predators & pound for pound they're stronger than humans. Black bears attack more people annually than Grizzly do and are responsible for a number of human deaths each year.

[jimpierce7]

I know exactly what you are saying here Jim. Having been a back woods boy all my life I do tend to have a more comfortable feeling around wild animals then I should. Not sure this is the actual point you are trying to make but PLEASE don't think these guys are teddy bears. As Jim pointed out they are dangerous animals and the small bear in day light has me out weighed by 200 pounds. I have a 12x zoom on my camera and I'm not afraid to use it!! lol I did make light of a dangerous situation, and having been face to face with a black bear when I was 14, I have nothing but absolute respect for these creatures.

[jimpierce7]

well now here it is!!

Hungry bears plague US west after record drought - Yahoo! News