Close Encounter of the Bear Kind

[Mrs Evans]

Ok, didn't get a picture but only because I was running into the trailer from a black bear coming towards our campfire. Our campsite is right next to an open glen and we heard some rustling so I asked my DH to turn on the flashlight. I briefly saw a pair of eyes as he swept his flashlight across the glen and I told him where to focus the light, right behind some trees. When he did, Oh My Goodness, there was a huge full grown black bear, his eyes shining directly towards us about 20 ft away. Let me tell you, it seemed a lot closer. I never got out of my chair so fast and got my butt to the trailer. Meanwhile, my DH wisely kept the light focused on the bear while slowly moving towards me as I'm begging him to get inside the trailer, which he finally does. I only say finally because it wasn't fast enough for my liking. Well, writing this out, I'm starting to calm down a little as the rush of adrenaline certainly did rile up my insides more than a little bit. The vacation has definitely been adventurous so far. I haven't even talked about the hike we had this morning, lol! I will never forget Wekiwa Springs State Park!!! 😲

Well, my DH just bought our chairs in and is telling me he regrets missing a photo op 🐾🐾

And I was worried about the alligators, lol!

[asquared]

Actually dh did right, you want to back up slowly, not run from a bear. Glad y'all are safe. Where are you at? When I was in college, I was a wrangler on a dude ranch in Colorado near Mesa Verde. We used to take a 2 day trail ride that took us to an elevation of 10,000 ft. We would ride up a wooded trail, into a field past an old cabin, down another wooded trail and out into another field where we would ride under a rocky cliff overhang, back out in the open and up another hill. One day we popped up over the hill by the cabin to see a large bear. We just made a lot of noise talking and the bear walked off into the woods. Another time on the same trail, we were riding under the overhang and the horses were all acting skittish. This was very unusual for these horses. Couldn't figure out why until we came back out in the open and saw we had just ridden under a mountain lion. we quickly rode on out of the area. Guess I gave those ranch guests more than they bargained for those days. I got some great tips those weeks.

[scootingranny]

Glad you got inside quickly...don't know if I could think OR move that fast if I ever saw one! ANd yeah, not hard to outrun an alligator but tough to outrun a bear!

EDIT: Have always hear to make yourself big like a bear and make noise...glad to know to back up slowly. I may never have this type of close encounter but info we all need to know

[Papa GLS]

Sorry Mrs Evans
Forgot to warn you about the bears. Glad ya'll are OK & have a great story to tell. Trip will probably be boring now. We are going to Salt Springs next week; they've been known to have a bear or 2 too.

[Wayne Joan]

I've been told that alligators can run pretty fast. I guess I don't want to get into a foot race with either an alligator or a bear. Glad we don't have alligators in Michigan. We do see them when visit Texas & Louisana.

[Mrs Evans]

I was telling my family about our encounter and how I was so scared I just about sh** myself and my brother proceeds to tell me that it's a good thing I was able to scoot before I scat, LOL!

[WillFish]

DH here: this was a cool experience! A little scary, but as uninvited guests go, this one behaved pretty well and left without a fuss. With black bears, making yourself big and noisy works well to run them off. This encounter never got that intense.

[asquared]

Here is what to do if you see a bear

[Mrs Evans]

Originally Posted by Papa GLS

Sorry Mrs Evans
Forgot to warn you about the bears. Glad ya'll are OK & have a great story to tell. Trip will probably be boring now. We are going to Salt Springs next week; they've been known to have a bear or 2 too.

No worries, the ranger at check in told us to be careful in the water and on land, lol!

[Papa GLS]

Mrs Evans
You would not need to outrun the bear, just your DH.

[Mrs Evans]

Originally Posted by WillFish

DH here: this was a cool experience! A little scary, but as uninvited guests go, this one behaved pretty well and left without a fuss. With black bears, making yourself big and noisy works well to run them off. This encounter never got that intense.

Oh yes it was intense! How close would he have gotten had we not caught him in the act of coming directly towards us. Shudder to think, but thankfully we were aware of our surroundings and heard him before we saw him.

[Mrs Evans]

Originally Posted by Papa GLS

Mrs Evans
You would not need to outrun the bear, just your DH.

LOL! I did outrun him, LOL!

[scootingranny]

Pedal, Forrest, Pedal!!!

(internet image, not my photo)

[scootingranny]

Originally Posted by asquared

Here is what to do if you see a bear

Thanks...some good info and bookmarked

[Mrs Evans]

Originally Posted by scootingranny

Pedal, Forrest, Pedal!!!

(internet image, not my photo)

For real!

[Mrs Evans]

Originally Posted by asquared

Actually dh did right, you want to back up slowly, not run from a bear. Glad y'all are safe. Where are you at? When I was in college, I was a wrangler on a dude ranch in Colorado near Mesa Verde. We used to take a 2 day trail ride that took us to an elevation of 10,000 ft. We would ride up a wooded trail, into a field past an old cabin, down another wooded trail and out into another field where we would ride under a rocky cliff overhang, back out in the open and up another hill. One day we popped up over the hill by the cabin to see a large bear. We just made a lot of noise talking and the bear walked off into the woods. Another time on the same trail, we were riding under the overhang and the horses were all acting skittish. This was very unusual for these horses. Couldn't figure out why until we came back out in the open and saw we had just ridden under a mountain lion. we quickly rode on out of the area. Guess I gave those ranch guests more than they bargained for those days. I got some great tips those weeks.

We're at Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka, FL, north of Orlando. Wow! What experiences you've had. I haven't had so much excitement EVER in my life like what I've had today. Now that it's done and everyone is safe, I'm glad I can think of it and smile now

But you better believe that I will not be so interested in late night campfires during the remainder of our stay here

[scootingranny]

We have two dogs. One doesn't like people or very few people. Loves my grangirl, husband, son and me. Otherwise, you would think she is Cujo and oh my word...when she sees the UPS truck drive up, she just goes bananas. But she is just a big bully because she will run and hide when I bring out the vacuum cleaner (she is a rescue and have no idea of what she went thru before we got her). The other dog LOVES people but not other animals (she likes other dogs just not other animals). She watches tv and KNOWS when an animal shows up on commercial or in a show and barks like crazy. SO if the bear had come up on our campsite, we would have known ahead of time because one would have run under the couch and the other would be standing her ground, barking like a banshee. Who needs burglar alarms with those two???

[Mrs Evans]

Originally Posted by scootingranny

We have two dogs. One doesn't like people or very few people. Loves my grangirl, husband, son and me. Otherwise, you would think she is Cujo and oh my word...when she sees the UPS truck drive up, she just goes bananas. But she is just a big bully because she will run and hide when I bring out the vacuum cleaner (she is a rescue and have no idea of what she went thru before we got her). The other dog LOVES people but not other animals (she likes other dogs just not other animals). She watches tv and KNOWS when an animal shows up on commercial or in a show and barks like crazy. SO if the bear had come up on our campsite, we would have known ahead of time because one would have run under the couch and the other would be standing her ground, barking like a banshee. Who needs burglar alarms with those two???

Sounds like a good combination

[Mountndream]

Originally Posted by asquared

Here is what to do if you see a bear

This is only for Black Bears...If you try most of this with a Grizzly you will provoke it.

[Cfritts]

I love adventures. I am pretty sure I would panic and run too although I know that's not what to do. Lol. I want to camp with you!