Backyard Bear

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I went on a trip to Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan; which is a little over 700 km North of Eyebrow.  The trip was a visit to my brother-in-law's cottage as well as for a job interview (more on that in another post).  While we were visiting, we were told that a bear had been spotted the day before.  The Conservation Officers had been contacted and a live trap had been set up near the cottage.

Later in the afternoon as we were out on the back deck, enjoying the sunshine and the gorgeous view of the lake, what should show up but the bear.  We and the dogs (theirs and ours) were quickly moved into the house - just in case - and we watched out the patio doors.

Bears aren't exactly a common sight around Eyebrow, so I was anxious to get some pictures (much like my rush to stand under the lightning struck tree (in my last post) - or so my wife and sister-in-law would tell you if you asked - or even if you didn't.  However the bear was being inquisitive rather than aggressive so I stepped out onto the deck to get a better shot.  It was, after all, only a young (probably two years old) black bear, not a (much larger) brown bear, grisly or Kodiak.  (Black bears can still be dangerous if cornered or protecting young, so I wouldn't go running up to one, but this one was no threat and I didn't get that close.)

I'm glad I did - it was good footage.

The bear continued its stroll around the house, found the live trap and was safely locked within fifteen minutes later.  This was one of three bears that we saw at relatively close range in the two days days we were there.