bear !

[MOPanfisher]

Jan z that was policy when I had a pretty teenage daughter.  Bears are less of a risk than teenage boys.

[terryj1024]

This picture was taken in Howell County 2 weeks ago

[Johnsfolly]

I love all of the color phase bears. In PA we just had all black with maybe a white patch on the chest. 

[jolicious]

On ‎05‎/‎29‎/‎2016 at 1:02 AM, 176champion said:

I totaled a1998  Ford Windstar in 2005 when I hit a deer 1 mile from my house...was going 55 mph

I heard that most accidents happen within 3 miles of home...

So I moved

[Fish24/7]

[176champion]

32 minutes ago, Fish24/7 said:

And be sure you have your .45 semi auto handy...

[jdmidwest]

On 5/29/2016 at 10:12 AM, dtrs5kprs said:

PM sent.

This is what worries me a little, as picnic / cooler / camper / tourist season heats up. Lot of folks aren't used to thinking about taking bear precautions in the Ozarks.

Naw.  All the tourists have Yeti's now prepping for the bear invasion.  I am sure that is why they are flying off the shelf.

$400 cooler that barely holds a 12 pack of beer, lunchable, and a bag of ice. 

[dtrs5kprs]

7 hours ago, Fish24/7 said:

Great advice. My concern is that I've actually seen an Ozark campsite.

And don't take that the wrong way...I love the Ozarks and the people. But bear safe at Hootentown?

[Bill Babler]

I for one am glad to see the increase in population here in the Southern Missouri Ozarks.  The great folks in Arkansas and Tenn. have lived along side these furry neighbors from the beginning.  At Gatlinburg, a sister city to Branson, they seem to be in large numbers.  Folks there have learned how to live with these trash stealing varmints.

Seeing one on the shores of Bull Shoals lake would be a thrill for me.  Electric fence will keep them at bay, just like their Bigger Northern Cousins.  If you have an orchard or bee hives I for sure would run a couple of strands around it. 

I think someone mentioned Bear Creek having a  population in Missouri.  Most of the sighting have been from Bee Creek, North thru the Stonebridge area and North and West of Rockaway.  Almost smack dab in that Bear Creek Country.  Lots of Mark Twain Forrest up that way and lots of empty land for critters to roam.

Shell Knob to Golden to Eagle Rock and over into Eureka Springs and in that country the same deal.  Lots of Hidey Holes for big Coon type critters.

[Old plug]

I tend to agree they cannot be any worse than armadillos and squirrels to property owners. IF I had one coming through that was tearing up things I might give him a dose of 410 ga target load. That is about the worst I would do. I do not think they are aggressive. Might even be able to run one off with my Yard Defender. That is a lawn sprinkler with a movement sensor eye. Does a real good job with keeping the deer away from my Hosta patch. Head rotates fast back and forth and makes a lot of noise doing so.