Our neighborhood grapevine was working well, involving people I’ve never met. The initial participants are in the photo below, although the picture was taken at the Maggie Valley craft fair. Several days ago Connie let us know that Nathan had seen a two-hundred-pound bear on his porch. John and I walk past Nathan’s house twice a day, but we never see him or his family.
Yesterday Shawn texted us that a bear was in their back yard. He walked past the chicken enclosure and jumped atop the neighbor’s dog kennel behind them. Logan (8) knocked on our door to return the airplane that the wind blew off our roof. He said he was in front of his house and saw the bear walking behind it. He was shivering, whether from excitement or the cold, I don’t know. He wasn’t wearing a sweater, and he had only socks on his feet. This was nothing unusual, because that’s the way we often see him flying about the neighborhood, paying no attention to the weather.
As we walked this morning, neighbor Lee stopped her car to greet us. We told her about the bear sightings. She said she would let her husband know so that he would repair the dogs’ electric fence. We hooked up with Marla, and as we chatted, Lee came back. She had already called Stan, the resident bear-hunter, to give him the news.
Do you suppose animals have their own grapevine? Albert and Cat bumped noses as Marla looked on. We’ll never know what news they exchanged. If John or I see the bear, we’ll let you know. The camera is dying to take a shot at it.
I apologized to Marla for cutting off her head, but she said it didn’t hurt.
Mehrling Muse 
Oh dear. We do hace black bears in Mississippi but I think they are mostly over by the river. . And we know there are pumas. Cant be to careful.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Hope this doesn’t interfere with your walks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re still walking.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I didn’t think black bears are aggressive except when challenged or with young’uns. Of course, I don’t think I’d like to challenge that. Remember you only have to run faster than the slowest person! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Good advice, Kate, only I’d be the slowest person.
LikeLiked by 4 people
You might be surprised.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Not good!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Black bears are in the north of my state, but not here in the southern New Jersey…at least I hope not. We do have coyotes roaming about though. Stay safe Anne.
LikeLiked by 2 people
We’ve seen several wild turkeys, deer, and one skunk. I don’t think we’ll see the bear, but we must keep looking.
LikeLiked by 4 people
We have black bear here, this time of year especially. Neat to see but at a safe distance. Very nice to have a grapevine. 😘💗
LikeLiked by 2 people
Our grapevine seems to be healthy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! How exciting, a bear in the neighborhood! When we were visiting our son and his family in CO last year, my hubby and I were awakened by a terrible racket outside out window. It was a bear digging in the trash can. Now my son has a bear-proof trash can!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve been closer to a bear than we have. We don’t keep trash cans outside, so we don’t have much bait.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Logan doesn’t look too impressed in the photograph but it may be because he’s still got shoes on and isn’t running around like the Flash. I hope Stan, the resident bear hunter doesn’t take off after the bear to kill it. It was probably confused after just waking up. I know I often am.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Logan had exemplary behavior at the craft fair, tagging along with three women. The sun was in his eyes, too. I like your view, though, that he chafing at not being wild and free.
I doubt Stan will kill the bear. Most people here would not kill an animal unless it was threatening people.
xxx Bear Hugs xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember coming across baby bears when I was picking berries in the Sierra Foothills. I could smell them before I saw them. Bears and alligators are not my favorite amongst God’s creatures, but I have a healthy respect for both.
LikeLiked by 3 people
How is Logan so still in that pic? My colleague had a bear in her yard recently. She has a neat video of it if you are interested – https://lori.blog/2018/10/17/bear/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t stop to wonder at Logan’s lack of movement in a still picture. It was amazing. You remembered he is usually a blur.
I enjoyed watching the bear video. Thanks for the link.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I often wonder about animal communication!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I loved your post. I hope you get to see the bear. We often think of bears as friendly woolly lumbering creatures but perhaps you all know better. Do you think you could put food out for them- would that make them more friendly ?
I love the neighborhood grapevine system- seems like the old times are back again. Grapevines are the norm in our villages- everyone knows things as they happen. In my grandparents’ place, one person goes to the market and when he/she returns, he/she drops in on every house on his/her way back exchanging news or giving them some produce they bought from the market.
Logan among the old timers was a good picture. Anne, you have lost weight.
Susie
LikeLiked by 1 person
We treat bears with respect, because they could turn ugly in an instant. Feeding them only encourages them to come near people, so we are advised never to put out food for them. We keep our garbage in the garage until we take it to the center. We live in the country, so we don’t have garbage collection as you would in cities and towns.
I may look a little different because I had my hair cut several weeks ago. There is a lot to be said for long hair! Mine is already needing a trim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice to know you have a lovely neighborhood. So many people concerned about everyone’s safety.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Southern part of the US was always noted for gracious hospitality, and part of that is being concerned for the people around you. I don’t think it is as strong as it was in my youth, but we look out for each other. We all share a common road to get to our homes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Anne. so glad to know that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No bears around here. Of if they are, they have to good sense to make themselves scarce when humans are around. I bet that animals have their own grapevines via smells.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard that the mast (natural food available to the bears) is not good this year, unlike previous years. If that is true, we are more likely to see bears searching for food. We live right near the edge of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park where there are many bears.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear! Never put out food to invite them in. I hear they can be a nuisance after that. Remember, the admonition at Jellystone, in the Yogi Bear cartoon? “DON’T FEED THE BEARS!” lol
I saw a huge black bear once in Aspen, CO, near Maroon Creek, only it was late summer and it wasn’t black, but a beautiful fall orange/gold color that glistened. It saw us and high tailed it outta there. I told the ranger about it and he said it was a black bear, but that was their summer coat color. Who knew?
I always thought black bears to be small, but the ranger said…
However, it is curious that there are bear sightings. Is there something new or different going on in the area that may be bringing them down?
LikeLike
Neighbor Nathan estimated the bear to weigh 200 pounds. We are very aware that we should not feed the bears. We don’t have garbage collection out in the country, so all of us keep our trash in the garage before taking it to the center.
I had no idea black bears could be anything other than black.
The difference could be lack of food in the woods. In other years the mast was good, so the bears didn’t venture close to us for food.
LikeLike
Can Logan speak bear language Anne? Well, I’m sure it would be pretty exciting to see a great big furry bear but get on good terms with him or her. Take care .. 🙂
LikeLike
I think children here are taught at an early age to stay away from wild animals. Logan knows the bear was probably the one who stole their cat’s container of food from their front porch. We looked for the bear as we walked this morning, but we didn’t see him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well you topped my coyote story by seeing a bear – I would be over the moon seeing a bear in the neighborhood. I know I was “catching flies” when I saw the coyote.
LikeLike
John and I haven’t seen a bear yet, so you are still in the running.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No bears, but we do get the rare large cougar from time to time. They stay mostly to the urban areas. I got to see one crossing our back yard about 4 years ago. Just his hind-quarter and tail as he went behind some brush. He scared the horses really bad though.
LikeLike
I’ve never been close to a cougar.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you do NOT see him, except from a very safe distance!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whoa!!! A bear…..we only have coyotes and foxes. I am not sure I would want to see a bear on a walk.
LikeLike
We have coyotes, but I haven’t seen one. I haven’t seen a bear, either.
LikeLike
Whew, it’s a little scary that a bear has so little fear of people that it will go onto a porch.
LikeLike
Maybe the bear was very hungry. None of us want to get close to a wild animal that weighs more than we do
LikeLike
Well my goodness Anne! A bear!
Yet again, I’m SO thankful to live in Great Britain where there are no wild bears, alligators or coyotes, which might look on me as a food supply, or just a bit of fun and distraction!
I saw a photograph just last week of a home owner in America who was being held hostage in the house by an Alligator who had taken up residence on the porch, right in front of the door!
Knowing my luck, I’d have only realised there was an alligator there when I’d opened the door and stepped out! eeeek! lol
GREAT post Anne, and the photograph is beautiful, not just because Logan isn’t the blur we know him to be but also because it’s such a truly wonderful photograph of you. GREAT smile! I smiled right back at you.
Bless your beautiful heart.
Sending much love ~ Cobs. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unless it happens to you you don’t know how you’d react. I’d like to think I would just get excited but in reality, I might just poop my pants!! 🤣 Keep aware!
LikeLike
Yikes! I become shivery at the thought of a bear and Have to smile at your calm matter of fact writing about the sighting! I would love to see a picture of one though! I reckon the dogs are filling each other in on all the gossip ..love the photo and wow, those are huge pumpkins!
LikeLike
I’m not sure how I would react to seeing a bear in person without bars between us. Today a neighbor told us she saw a six-point buck with two does in a clearing in our neighborhood. That must have been quite a sight!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, I’m feeling nervous even though I’m safely tucked away in England. I was wondering Anne, is it a wise move to walk around with some bear food just incase he approaches you on the road? I mean, distracting him to eat that rather than you. Or would that be counter-productive because the bear would be able to smell the food from miles away and be attracted back to the area?
LikeLike
I wouldn’t want the bear to think I was carrying bait!!! John and I are not likely to see this bear. We talk as we walk, and the bear will slip away without our seeing it. Bears do not like noise. They are more scared of us than we of them. Still, we will try to be aware of our surroundings and not be taken by surprise by a bear.
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMG, bears scare me!!! Have you seen it since??
LikeLike
There have been no more sightings of bears. I would be scared if I saw a mother bear with cubs and frightened silly if I accidentally got between them. New cubs won’t be born until January. Black bears are not nearly as ferocious as grizzlies. I like to think we have cordial Southern bears here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It never occurred to me that you had any down there! Silly me!
LikeLiked by 1 person