We were not looking for bears. More like looking OUT for them, but not really expecting to see any.
What are YOU lookin’ at?
We surprised this fellow, as he was coming down to the beach for a sip of water on a hot morning.
We were in the skiff, using the more powerful gas motor to get from our campsite to the favourite fishing spot at the other end of the lake (after which we would use the small electric motor), when the black shape appeared on the beach to our left.
The Captain reined in the speed and headed towards the bear so I could get a picture, but with the change in speed and the wake catching up behind us, the photos I snapped were not great. Again I apologize. These pics were rush jobs, trying to compensate for the rocking boat, but if I had taken even another second to focus better, the bear would have been gone. As it was, after two quick clicks, he melted into the woodwork.
Looks like we interrupted his plans for a sunny morning on the beach.
Sheesh! Happens to me all the time!
I looked for bears all the rest of the day. When we stepped onto the beach for a swim, I was Mrs. Rubberneck, constantly checking the bushes behind me.
Later, when I told the campsite host that we’d seen a bear on the beach, he looked like he’d seen a ghost. After a moment, I realized how it sounded. I laughed and said, “No! Not here on the beach. Way over, halfway down the lake.”
I guess he had thought he had a nuisance bear wandering through the campsites and he’d have to deal with it. Whew! Was he relieved!
wordsfromanneli 
June 21, 2019 at 12:48 am
Wow! He’s a big one, Anneli.
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June 21, 2019 at 5:47 am
Oh, no, Jill. They come much bigger than that! But if I had been on land with him, I would have thought he was big enough!!
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June 21, 2019 at 6:16 am
You were very lucky! I haven’t seen one yet this year.
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June 21, 2019 at 6:37 am
I hope that when you do, it’s at a safe enough distance.
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June 21, 2019 at 6:40 am
I might have packed my stuff and hurried home!
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June 21, 2019 at 9:56 am
I can admit that I worried about some critter coming after my dogs, but I was more worried about cougars. It was kind of nice to see a bear (and be safe in the skiff, out of reach).
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June 21, 2019 at 12:23 pm
I hadn’t thought of cougars. I can understand your fear.
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June 21, 2019 at 7:03 am
What a wonderland you live in 🙂
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June 21, 2019 at 9:57 am
We do have a lot of forests and lakes and rivers (and animals). Thanks for the visit, Hans. Happy Solstice Day.
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June 21, 2019 at 7:35 am
I’m jealous! I was hoping to see a black bear on my recent trip to Yosemite. Several times my travel mate had to say “no Juanita, that’s just a stump”!!!
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June 21, 2019 at 9:58 am
I know! I know! I’ve seen more bear-like stumps than I have real bears. It’s always a thrill to see them, as long as they aren’t trying to maul you. Most of our black bears have good manners though.
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June 21, 2019 at 7:59 am
Looks like a juvenile yearling? We have lots of visible bears here and mostly they will scamper away if they see people. Some will sit in the middle of the road or right next to it though. That’s worrisome, because it likely means that they have been fed by humans.
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June 21, 2019 at 10:04 am
That’s not good if a bear doesn’t run away. You know they say (as a warning to city people), “A fed bear, is a dead bear,” because they end up having to put the bears down when they lose their fear of people. The bear in my photo, is probably two or three years old at the most, I would guess. Not a huge one, like some we have seen. The biggest one I saw was on the Charlottes. Really huge.
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June 21, 2019 at 12:30 pm
Yes – that warning is posted everywhere because of the tourists who come to Wood Buffalo Park. Unfortunately, there are people who just won’t stop, however.
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June 21, 2019 at 12:48 pm
I know exactly what you mean!
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June 21, 2019 at 10:46 am
You’re braver than I. I’d be afraid the bear might swim. 😉 Cool that you got to see it and get a couple photos. I think they’re pretty good for such a quick sighting.
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June 21, 2019 at 10:55 am
Black bears are rarely that aggressive when you come upon them in nature, unless they feel threatened. This one was quite anxious to get away from us and that was a good thing.
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June 21, 2019 at 3:58 pm
Another enjoyable post Anneli, I can imagine how thrilling it must be to see a wild bear! I just hope people take note of the signs not to feed them. Sadly humans have a lot to answer for when it comes to messing up the lives of our fellow creatures! x
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June 21, 2019 at 4:38 pm
Way out where we were, there would have been no signs, but in parks and areas closer to town, people do need reminders. We think we’re doing a good thing, being kind to them but we are just making them more susceptible to being rounded up when we inadvertently lure them into town by making food available to them. The worst problems tend to be in the outlying areas where bears get into the garbage and people don’t take note to secure these “attractions.”
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June 21, 2019 at 4:09 pm
I can imagine how relieved you were to have a motor and not oars! I’m not sure I would have taken a dip in that lake with a bear nearby. Hope you weren’t “bare” either, just in case you had to make a break for it. Ha ha ha. Great pics!
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June 21, 2019 at 4:40 pm
Well … let’s just say the lake has remote spots and I didn’t have a bathing suit with me, but I did wear some skimpy things, just in case.
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June 21, 2019 at 6:16 pm
The second picture is really good, despite the not so great picture taking situation.
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June 21, 2019 at 6:46 pm
Just too bad the bear was moving too. That’s always blurs things. But you get the “picture.”
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June 22, 2019 at 7:06 pm
Wow! You got great photos of the bear. Hubby really wants to see a bear in our yard, at a distance. I saw a cub years ago. That was wonderful.
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June 22, 2019 at 7:07 pm
Seeing a cub can be scary. The mother probably wasn’t far away and she would not be pleased. But I know what you mean, it’s a big thrill to see these animals in the wild.
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June 22, 2019 at 7:17 pm
You are right on all counts.
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June 23, 2019 at 9:12 am
Great pictures even that the one was a bit blurry. I had my bear adventures on the Charlottes with big bears too and I wouldn´t want to miss them. It’s just a beautiful country in which you are living!
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June 23, 2019 at 9:12 am
I remember that you’ve had some very scary bear adventures. And the bears in the Charlottes are so huge!
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June 23, 2019 at 3:18 pm
Such wonderful animals at a healthy distance😏
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June 23, 2019 at 4:06 pm
At a healthy distance!!! Those are the key words.
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June 25, 2019 at 9:57 am
You are lucky photographer! What a beautiful animal!
Next time there, please, take a picture of a black cougar.
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June 25, 2019 at 10:35 am
Ha ha. First, we don’t have black cougars, but if we did, and I wanted to take a picture of one, I’d have to strap the camera to the back of my head because I would be getting out of there! But oops! No, I couldn’t do that. They say never run or they chase. But wouldn’t it be amazing to see one and be able to get its photo!!!
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June 25, 2019 at 2:04 pm
How big was this bear?
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June 25, 2019 at 2:32 pm
I’m guessing it was a two- or three-year-old.
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June 25, 2019 at 2:43 pm
That’s cool.
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June 25, 2019 at 6:09 pm
Thanks, yes, it was a big deal to see him.
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June 27, 2019 at 5:37 am
I know that black bears prefer to avoid people. Just never come across one that is eating food or get between the mother and the cubs.
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June 27, 2019 at 7:37 am
Very true.
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July 12, 2019 at 8:53 am
I have never had this problem. However, the advice should be paid mind to.
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July 12, 2019 at 9:12 am
Yes, they almost always run away, unless they’ve become too used to people (maybe hanging around campsites, or close to houses on the outskirts of town). Glad you’ve never had the problem.
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June 21, 2020 at 5:02 pm
I am as well.
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