Crazy bears and other stuff

For the last five nights, we've had a momma bear and two cubs destroying our crab apple trees.

Below, a cub stops in at the 24 hour apple delicatessen

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I've tried to save the trees by using some old plastic tubing to surround the trunks and branches - I've used it before to protect poplars from deer - and I have to admit it was hilarious to hear the cubs outside the window at 1:30 in the morning bawling their eyes out as they futilely tried to scratch their way up . . . . . but then they successfully ripped the tubing off the trees and I was the one crying as more branches cracked under their weight.

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Also, two days ago, our neighbour spotted two cougars crossing a field within half a mile of our house.

Needless to say, with all these rather dangerous distractions around, Abby and Keeper are inside by sunset these days, at least until we have a few nights without the bears.

A cold spring meant a lower than usual berry crop in the mountains is pushing these guys out onto the prairie.

Abby mousing in the field in the fall

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Keeper had a lump removed from her rectum area and the biopsy results came back negative. But she had to wear a cone for a week before the stitches could be removed. Not happy.

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. . . . . but on guard nonetheless as heavy weather comes off the mountains.

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Below, I gave her a break on a walk, removing the cone. As long as we kept moving, she didn't bother her stitches. And yes, that's intrepid Abby as a dot in the distance.

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Riding with a cone must have been a wind tunnel like experience for Keeper.

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Polly and Abby study a problem.

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I'm putting some scenic pictures into the Alberta thread in another part of the photography forum. Or view Abby and Keeper's photoblog at www.goldentales.ca/new.htm.

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

Poor Keeper no fun being a cone head. Hopefully it gets her a few extra treats and scratches :lovestruck:

Such beautiful pictures, i'm in awe!:thumbs up

as always awsome pics Rick :thumbs up
glad Keepers' biopsy was neg :highfive:

I love Polly. SHe's so inspiring:D



I see Keeper has SHeriff COle's taste in cone wear fashion :D

BEAUTIFUL shots, RickC.

The dogs must have been overwrought when they heard the bears outside. Hope the trees survive the pruning.
Keeper and Abby have had quite an end to summer this year! Porcupine visitors, bears and biopsies.
Having cougars near the house would certainly get my attention. We have what seems to be factitious sightings of cougars in this area all the time so when I walk in the woods I am always checking the branches for cougars ready to pounce:laughing::laughing:
So glad the results were negative for Keeper.
Splendid photos

Beautiful photos yet again! I hope your bear and cougar problems subside soon - it can be stressful for everyone!

beautiful pictures im in ahhh

Sheriff Cole sends his sympathy and regards to Keeper. He's got a couple more days of DEC (Dreaded Elizabethan Collar) to endure, then he'll get his freedom, too. :dog:

What do the dogs think of the bears? We had a bear come through and bend the neighbor's steel shepherd's hook to the ground to get at the feeder. The dogs didn't hear it, but saw the feeder the next morning with squirrels finishing up where the bears left off. From the dogs' reactions, I think they thought the squirrels had done it! :D Treated them with a lot more respect afterward, anyway! :laughing:

Love that last picture of Polly helping Abby analyzing the problem! :thumbs up Super angle!!!

Great photographs as always! Thanks for sharing, Rick.

OMG the pictures look like you were soo close to the bear ! :eek:

Poor Keeper , give her a big kiss from me.

awesome pics!
Hera had to wear a cone while her stitches healed also...she ran into and knocked so many things over in one week than she did the 2 years we had her

the one of her in the grass shows her sadness! poor pup
but the one with her head out the window shows she can still enjoy life with that stupid cone on lol

Rick,although I would love to see a bear,her cubs and cougars in the wild,probably not in my Crabapple tree:laughing:
You are very lucky though,as are your pups and cats living in such a beautiful place....and there is little Polly in the last pic:lovestruck: