So, went up to the Beta Site after work to check out the new cargo container. They did a good job and even levelled it as best they could. However, I still need to jack it up and get some concrete blocks under it because I want it higher off the ground. That’ll be something to do tomorrow. While I was up there, I also wanted to put in some more game cameras for security for the new container and to record the increased traffic of predators up there.
This morning, I was awoken to my phone alerting me that there was activity and pictures were available. Allow me to sum it up with this:
Yeah, it was a bear-centric 24 hours. First of all, this morning gave me this bruin:
That light in the background is the flash going off from the other game cam I set up there yesterday. The bear in the picture? Did not come alone:
That’s right, guys. Its a family affair up there. Whats that you say? You wish there were better pictures? No problem, man…here you go:
Mom and cub? That moves the needle a little bit on the threat-o-meter. It’s a veritable Wild Kingdom up there.
Its looking like my larger security threat is the bears rather than humans (for now). Wasn’t expecting that. I have a couple game cam pics here that show me in the truck putting up the game cams….and the previous pic shows the bears walking through seven minutes earlier.
I’m not going to call it a bear problem, but its certainly a ‘bear diverse’ area.
An interesting side note…on the way back from dinner last night I managed to get pulled over by some young buck on the police department. (Failure to signal for the right turn at the light, I am told.) Mind you, at the moment I had a Winchester 1200 and an AK sitting behind my seat, and the big Glock 10mm sitting on the dashboard. He asks for my license and proof of insurance. No problem, I say, and hand over the license. Insurance, he asks? Thats gonna take a sec, I gotta dig around for it, I reply. He says “Yeah, theres a lot of guns here I don’t think I want you digging around in there.”. My response? “Dude, there is a shitload of guns in this truck.” Got off with a warning. I wonder if he’ll mention the interaction to some of the older officers there who will say “Oh him? He’s always like that.” Good times.
Maybe a hard shell camper top on the back of the truck vs a tent? Would give you a few seconds of extra time in the middle of the night.
Down here we don’t have that large of a predator. But I still enjoy a few mm’s of aluminum that would make it a bit harder for anything to get to me. -holtz
I had a MAJ in college who had the entire side of his aircraft torn open by a bear that smelled moose blood inside from when the MAJ was packing out Bullwinkle.
Repaired the cables with boot laces, put a tarp over the openings and secured the whole thing with multiple rolls of 90mph tape.
If Mad Max flew, he would have been flying a plane that looked like the MAJ’s. Made it back to Fairbanks tho.
Same MAJ later had most of a sled dog team worked over by a VERY pissed off moose.
Waiting for the Sasquatch picture.
Keep waiting.
Dam, You got a lot of furry things wondering around your property.That spring on your property, is it the only one nearby? Maybe that’s the draw for all the wildlife.
Thats part of it. Theres a barbed wire fence that crosses the creek and Im thinking the fence is channeling traffic in a particular route.
Methinks your activity is pulling in the wildlife. They are inquisitive nosey neighbors. I think also once you settle in, they will settle down. Your fulltime presence – or more than a few hours per week – will result in fewer visitations.
I’d not like a killing due to a ‘him or me’ confrontation Shoot to put meet on the table is different. In fact, I wonder if taking a game animal might send the desired signal throughout the animal empire
Seems like everybody but my fingers know that is supposed to be meat.
Spell incorrector?
Maybe build a nice deck to sleep out on top of the container? Would solve my aversion/phobia to being locked in a metal box. Pull the ladder up at night like the natives did back in the day so the skin walkers, or bears, don’t get you. If there is that much bear activity wonder if they have a den nearby?
Black bears are amazing climbers the latches on the container are probably enough to let an adult get to the roof
then I would predict a case of fast rate lead poisoning for the poor bruin. It could be made as simple or fancy as one would want to do, perhaps a tree stand type of structure that could also serve to harvest game.
As I live with black bears in my area a few thoughts.
If you keep their food and trash secured, they generally leave it alone ONCE you’ve trained them. Yes, Black Bears can be trained.
My neighbor showed me how he keeps our local bear out of his chicken shed (full of KFC and sweet grains) with a strand of electric fence.
Bears IGNORE electric fences as only their nose and mouth would be zapped hard enough to get their attention.
Solution? Put a strip of raw bacon on the wire in the Spring when Bear wakes up and starts foraging.
We let each other know when the first BEAR SCAT occurs from the bacon trap.
Bear remembers and doesn’t bother that chicken shed for the rest of the summer.
HOWEVER, Bears forget training after hibernation. As proven too many times from forgetting to do the early spring bacon trap and a lot of damage and dead chickens occur.
Bears are territorial so if you shoot your local bear a new UNTRAINED Bear will show up pretty soon.
A strand of e-wire about your Conex with the bacon should after each bear in that family group gets the ZAP should keep them trained until hibernation.
Important safety note. Bears USED to Humans garbage bins and tents full of snacks are far less predictable than bears you DON’T FEED around humans.
I like your idea. We have black bears here, but so far no issues with our livestock.
Ah, the Missoula PD. A few years ago, a lot of them started coming to jitz. They’d spaz out during a roll, and I’d ask “Are you a cop?”
“Yeah, how’d you know?”
LOL.
Hadta google “jitz”. Ah, now “roll” makes sense. Do the cops not wanna tussle on the ground with the dindu? Or too much crap hanging on the duty belt ow ow ow?
(mutters in bear) Damn foreigners invading my country/neighborhood. Why cant they stay in their own home instead of ruining mine. next thing you know, theyll be wanting free sheet handouts and driving down denning values. /b
It’s when you get pulled over and they note “Travelling light today aren’t you?” that you’d be worried! LOL!
A friendly suggestion: Pay the eighty bucks or thereabouts, and get signed up for Helo medevac insurance, so if you need to get to a hospital ASAP you can without mortgaging the farm
Good luck…..
Sign up for the Helicopter Medical Evac. insurance now.
It is cheap when you get it before you need it.