bear !

[dtrs5kprs]

2 hours ago, bass17 said:

I have a photo of a bear that was taken 2 nights ago in our neighborhood, but I can't get it uploaded. If an administrator, or one of our tech gurus, will send me a PM, perhaps I could get it to you via email and get it posted.  Sighted just south of Highway 13 on H Highway.

Pic from Bass17

 

 

[huntest]

I have thought for some time that wildlife has been pushing back to a loss of habitat and may be getting a bit bolder. Whatever the case is, it sure changes the complexion of a walk in the woods.

This picture was taken in Vinita Oklahoma. Kansas officials denied any existence of big cats until trail cameras proved them wrong

[dtrs5kprs]

It's hard to understand why game and fish departments deny the reports. They all seemed to be on board that train with the big cats. 

[MOPanfisher]

Every MO biologist and agent I talked with never flatly denied the presence of anything but a bigfoot.  They always allowed for the presence of transient bears and cats and in recent years pretty much belive there are breeding populations of both bears and cats, although fewer cats.  There is certainly validity to more intrusion by humans into wild areas, also Missouri has certainly got a food source for mountain lions in the hefty deer population.  Bears can and will eat just about anything they are about the closest thing to a walking garbage disposal there is.  

[holleybob]

On 5/28/2016 at 10:48 AM, MOPanfisher said:

I keep expecting to have a bear in my apple orchard, compost heap, or fish remains pit.  So far not, maybe the outside dog keeps them skeered off.

They will ruin your apple orchard in a matter of hours. 400 lb raccoon is accurate. They'll break every branch to get to the fruit in the fall. They are a terrible nuisance for landowners. Friends in Virginia protect their orchard with a electric fence. Seems to help and they have a lot of bears.

[Jan_Z]

I follow the 3-S program...

Shoot, shovel and shut up... Having a back hoe handy makes it a lot easier too 

[dan hufferd]

6 hours ago, dtrs5kprs said:

Pic from Bass17

 

 

It looks like he is trying to get his paw print to match the one in the concrete, or maybe he wants his own concrete paiver 

[Johnsfolly]

I know that MDC is currently running a two year tracking study on bears in MO. They are gathering information for management purposes so that they can really get a good feel for the population size, young recruitment, and mortality. Seems a matter of time before they institute a hunting season for bears. I read a report that the genetic work that they have completed found a lineage from Arkansas, but more surprising was possible lineage from bears not from outside of MO. It's possible that a small population has been in MO all along.

[Old plug]

There were alwys bear in Missouri. Huzah wildlife area was one of those spots. That was back I the 60s. 

[Champ188]

14 hours ago, Jan_Z said:

I follow the 3-S program...

Shoot, shovel and shut up... Having a back hoe handy makes it a lot easier too 

I say let 'em live. More bears might = fewer stupid people.