The other night I was reading on the screened-in porch, in a reclining position, and behind my head, just a few feet away, I heard a scratching sound in the gravel on our driveway. The noise went on for several minutes, but I was involved in my reading. Plus, I assumed it was the neighborhood dog coming for a visit and wanting my attention. After more grunting and scratching, I lifted my head up. It was bear. We were both surprised. He starred at me for a few, long seconds. Then, he slowly, very slowly, walked away. He kept looking back at me. He had a look in his eye that said, “Where’d he come from?”.

If you live in the Beaverdam neighborhood, what’s your favorite bear encounter story?

I’d like to gather up a few good stories for a post on my blog.

yuck has some bear stories.

he dont live in beaverdam, tho.

Bears are the new Gay..

nws ish

Not exactly a Beaver Dam story ..yet a bear story non the less..

My hippie girl friend and I were hiking through the woods…not knowing that this was a bear resort of sorts.. we had hiked for 6 hours when we heard very loud growling and also the sound of what might have been a moose or cow or some large creature with 4 legs..making the sound of agony..It was getting dark and we were scared..Now you would think that what ever was being eatten by the bear would just die and the bear would start eatting and he would have drinks and desert..and take a nap like any civilized bear..not so..This growling and dying went on for what seemed like 4 hours..I guess hearing it’s prey crying in agony doesn’t deter a bears appetite..

My girl friend made me build the largest bonfire I have ever seen..perhaps 25 trees worth..I’m telling you it was huge..we keep feeding the fire all night say another 25 trees..when the sun came up kinda ran outta there..with our 50 pound packs..will never forget the growling, the crying in agony of what was being killed..

The (PFKaP) - 11 June 2009 10:17 PM

yuck has some bear stories.

he dont live in beaverdam, tho.

Sorry I missed this thread. I live just off of Beaverdam Road for another 7 days. Been here 3.5 years and this year was the worst for bears.

First year we were here, I saw one. It was small and up a tree, dogs below.

2nd year we were here, I saw 3. They took our trash out in the road twice. Momma broke open our rotten squash surplus and mouth fed her babies. It was cute. Glad we saw that.

3rd year: They are big now. I’ve hit one with a shovel. I’ve blown a hole in the floor of my house with really old 12 gauge ammo that hung fire. I’ve shot one 4 times with a large bore pistol and watched it climb right up the cliff behind our house. I’ve lost two screen doors. I can’t cook meat with the door open anymore. We are sick of salad and we’re outta here.

This house is over 50 years old and none of the 2 previous occupants had problems like this. I have to think it is the construction on the the ridgeline above us.

Or maybe you just smell like a root?  Tanis root is my best guess from behind this screen.

I smell like a root? That caused quite the flurry of sniffing around here.

We concluded that the kitchen smells like cooked meat, or cheese rinds, or something else far better than usual bear fare.

Mr. Yuck - 07 July 2009 12:08 AM

We concluded that the kitchen smells like cooked meat, or cheese rinds, or something else far better than usual bear fare.

Whatever rootboy…

Yuck, I kid because I care.
Anyways..back to bears.  I live in East Asheville and there has been an increase in bear activity in the 5 years we’ve owned our house.  I kind of think of them as large racoons, just a little more powerful.  Rummagers vs man eaters.  I think I saw that there has been 100 black bear attacks in the last 100+ years.

Could we a be a wee bit more specific about “East Asheville” before I sign a new lease? General neighborhood?

My son says “Bears are big and scary and I don’t want to play with them ANYMORE!”

We live a couple miles down Riceville Road.  They’re not too bad though.  I worry more about the coyotes, black widows and brown recluse.