There are occasional bear sightings in our area, but I have yet to see one in person. Yesterday Shawn texted me that their bird feeder was damaged, and the bucket of seeds was opened and out on the grass. Her conclusion was that a bear had been on their porch during the night. As I walked in the morning, I noted that Joyce’s bird feeding station was flat on the ground and wondered if the bear had knocked it down.

It was much later that I sat down to look at the videos from my porch camera. It had rained all during the night, so the movement of rain and flying insects caused the camera to take a new video about every 15 seconds. It was mind-numbing to look at each one. I sat up straight when I saw a pair of eyes coming toward me on the screen. Yes! It was the bear! The time stamp showed 2:43 am. I looked carefully at many of the videos before and after that one, but I saw no other activity.

Late last night shortly before midnight, I sent the video to all the neighbors for whom I had a telephone number. The first response was almost immediate. Shawn commented on the size of the bear and was happy I’d caught it on camera. The next message was after 9 in the morning. Joyce hoped the bear was just passing through. D. said the bear pulled out the grease pan from their grill behind the house, but it left the front bird feeders alone. Holly joked that the bear was hungry, and she could throw it leftover pizza. Cindy said she would like the bear to stay at our end of the subdivision. Pizza might have that effect.

We are more likely to see a deer than a bear. Yesterday Shawn said they had just seen 15 deer cross the road in front of them. Grandson David and I saw two several months ago, and that was my best sighting.