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Read Thread: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?

Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942384 by Lake Dragoness
Mar 1, 2017 8:14pm
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Yes, Black Bear, mom and cubs in Virginia (Shenandoah) near Front Royal, VA

-Amanda from Seattle
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942450 by Amanda from Seattle
Mar 1, 2017 9:56pm
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I've encountered bears multiple times while out hiking. I was way too close when hiking Kentucky Falls in Douglas County Oregon when 2 cubs came tumbling down a steep hill. Mama bear showed up about 1-2 minutes later. I didn't make a sound or move a muscle. Once Mama bear spotted me she yelled at her cubs and they all run back up the hill. I kicked my hike into a much faster pace to get back up to the trail head before Mama bear decided it was dinner time.

I've seen bears 2 other timers at other wilderness hiking locations. Both those other times I was already back in my car. I carry pepper spray, walking stick and a knife. If hiking alone I try to make noise(whistle or sing) to alert the bears I am present. Bears tend to avoid humans.
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942403 by Raven
Mar 2, 2017 4:29am
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That's so funny! Most have been adorable.
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942419 by Lucky Duck
Mar 2, 2017 4:31am
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That's amazing!
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942436 by SN Bone
Mar 2, 2017 4:31am
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That's awesome. Must have been a grizzly.
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942441 by Jaxx
Mar 2, 2017 4:32am
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I am from NH and live here so I can confirm this is true. Just black bears here, their pretty entertaining.
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942444 by Johnsosaurus
Mar 2, 2017 4:34am
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Wow.. There were around 2 cubs, 1 mother and probably 1 lone bear around my house this summer. I saw the lone one (it was probably last season's cub) cross the road right in front of my mailbox. It was pretty amazing, and then it raided the neighbor's bird feeder. That was funny.
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942447 by oj drinker
Mar 2, 2017 4:35am
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Sure! I didn't know there would be a box there. Missed out on that one!
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942451 by Wavesandwaterfalls
Mar 2, 2017 4:36am
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Fun. The cubs are cute.
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942384 by Lake Dragoness
Mar 2, 2017 5:03am
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I haven't seen the actual bears, but there's a corner of Connecticut where they seem to enjoy biting down on letterboxes and leaving rather impressive teeth marks. One of the containers I found like this was stuffed pretty full, and when the bear bit down, it actually left a tooth impression in the stamp. Very cool stamp image in the logbook!
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942384 by Lake Dragoness
Mar 2, 2017 9:40am
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Not while boxing. But did run into one as a teenager with just a 22 rifle. Others while driving.
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942388 by LROSEM
Mar 2, 2017 9:43am
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I call that outdoor danger radar. It has kept me safe on many occasions. Always freaks the family out when on a trail and I stop and hush them to listen.

In reality I am far more worried about snakes than bears. However, when in Idaho/Montana I didn't feel very safe being in Grizzly country. Needless to say I didn't go looking for Huckleberries.
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942473 by IrishRef
Mar 2, 2017 9:48am
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Oh yeah forgot, I did see a whole slew of them while boxing in Waco, Texas.
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942384 by Lake Dragoness
Mar 2, 2017 6:43pm
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Nope! Thankfully! Don't want to either. I don't know if you've heard, but Alaska has lots of BIG bears.
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
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Reply to: #942463 by Trailhead Tessie
Mar 3, 2017 6:09am
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Going off what Tessie said, I did manage to see a black bear and her cubs in that area of CT. American Legion state park I came over a little hill and on the trail there was the mom bear, the cubs off trail to my right. Luckily, the mama bear had her back to me.
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942474 by IrishRef
Mar 3, 2017 6:30am
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I feel the same way about danger radar. When you get that feeling you are being watched, you probably are!
Re: Has anyone seen a bear while letterboxing?
Board: Critter Corner
Reply to: #942463 by Trailhead Tessie
Mar 5, 2017 7:17am
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Or was it a Sasquatch? We'll never know!! That is amazing.

LD