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.

That's so funny! Most have been adorable.

That's amazing!

That's awesome. Must have been a grizzly.

I am from NH and live here so I can confirm this is true. Just black bears here, their pretty entertaining.

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.

Sure! I didn't know there would be a box there. Missed out on that one!

Fun. The cubs are cute.

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!

Not while boxing. But did run into one as a teenager with just a 22 rifle. Others while driving.

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.

Oh yeah forgot, I did see a whole slew of them while boxing in Waco, Texas.

Nope! Thankfully! Don't want to either. I don't know if you've heard, but Alaska has lots of BIG bears.

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.

I feel the same way about danger radar. When you get that feeling you are being watched, you probably are!

Or was it a Sasquatch? We'll never know!! That is amazing.

LD

Hi!
skootching dog, the Henry, and I are helping Art Gekko run an event this coming weekend, and I have a concern for Henry and poison ivy, not so much that he'll have a reaction, because from all I've read, kitties don't get poison ivy poisoning. I worry that the little guy will walk through the poison ivy and give it to US.

He's a head-sleeper.

I don't want poison ivy on my head.

We're going to do our best to keep him in the grassy areas, and out of the shrubs as much as possible, but with out luck, the little creep will find a way to get into it. I don't want to keep him home, because he loves camping, and we haven't been, all year.

I'd read that rubbing alcohol works on poison ivy, but that's toxic if ingested. I was thinking about making kitty wipes for before bed out of wash cloths and Everclear. I'm also very open to suggestions. Anyone got anything?

If the question is poison ivy the answer is Tecnu.

https://www.teclabsinc.com/questions/product-questions/tecnu-original/can-i-wash-a-cat-in-tecnu-original

We have it in our camper for Z-penguin, who gets poison ivy when I have been near it. He looks at me and can get poison ivy if I've been in the woods.

wow! never even considered that the cat could bring in the poison ivy!

We successfully avoided all the poison ivy!

Currently, I think the mental stress of it was far greater than the risk itself.

A friend of mine who is in Connecticut, has 2 cats that she loves dearly. Unfortunately, she can't keep them where she is currently staying. Is there anyone who could foster two cats (not sure for how long) until she can move into a place that allows cats? She is willing to drive as far as needed to get them a good, loving place to stay.

dp

Hey,
We are starting to do research on hedge hogs. Are they good pets? Are people usually allergic to them? Do they have the scent that ferrets do? Where does one get a hedge hog? I am not crazy about buying one from a pet store. What sort of cage do they need? What do they eat? Do they play with you, can you litter train it?

Starting to do some checking...besides the obvious whats the difference between a male and female? Is one friendlier than the other? Why are the females more expensive?

Any one have huge pros and cons of owning a hedge hog?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

We are starting to do research on hedge hogs. Are they good pets?

Please, just be sure to name it "Spiny Norman".

We had Hedggies for years. Mainly because a friend was leading the world in Wobbly Hedgehog disorder research. Wobbly is a horrifying genetic disorder that resulted from over/in breeding in pet strains. My friend was, after years, able to identify and isolate clear breed lines. So no, do not get your hedggie from a pet store. (IMHBKO, one should only ever get fish from a pet store.) Find a breeder who will certify to clean heredity.

I thought hedggies were great pets. If you ever want to see a happy animal, place a hedgehog in a fenced in area in your yard during June bug season and watch the munch-munch joy! I liked females better - they seemed sweeter. A word of warning though, you have to play and cuddle hedggies everyday so that they are trusting of your family. If not, well, you'll get the point!

https://hedgehogclub.com/index.html

Females cost more because breeders are profit motivated and do not want casual competition from pet owners.

We bought ours an an exotic pet store in Las Vegas. She loves to eat meal worms and other bugs dead or alive. There is a bag processed pellet food available but she doesn’t care for it.

As far as smell she doesn’t have an odor like the ferrets we used to own she loves to play on the hamster wheel and baths in the kitchen sink. I agree that you should hold them every day or they will become skittish.

Ours isn’t litter box trained but I suppose it is possible.

I love hedgehogs. They make great pets. But with any new addition - the more research you do the better you know if it's a fit for your family.

I haven't heard of anyone being allergic. But they do have fuzzy bellies - so I suppose it's possible. No scent like a ferret. I had six hedgehogs at one time and never noticed a smell on them. A reputable breeder would be your best bet for purchasing one. I follow a Facebook page "Hedgehog 411". They are out of Ohio - but share lots of great info and sell hedgehogs as well.

I kept mine in open wire cages with a plastic tray bottom. I used pine shavings for their flooring. It was easy to clean. I fed mine the packaged food from the store.

Yes - interact with your hedgehog. Otherwise they will be skittish and shy and a bundle of spines all the time. They are very curious and friendly if you get them out and hold them and let them wander around.

It's an excellent pet if it fits your time and maintenance schedule. If not, you end up with a skittish critter that needs fed and has a cage that needs cleaned.

Best of luck. Please let us know what you decide :)

There is about 8 zillion different kind of dogs and cats, most of which are available for adoption. They have every personality imaginable. Maybe do what we've done for the last 40 years, adopt a feral or abandon cat. They need people & homes. Leave wild animals in the wild. We have a very low opinion of wild animal breeder, please don't enable them.

Doublesaj & Old Blue