Thursday, March 28, 2013

A Bit Disconcerting

I found these during my walk in the woods this afternoon, they're maybe a day old...

Even somewhat fuzzy and partially melted, they are pretty good sized...

especially the claw marks.

Do you see them there, in the snow?

Since I came across these walking right down the middle of one of my main hiking and riding trails, five minutes from my house, it's just a wee bit disconcerting.  I had a very close encounter with a bear and her cubs once many years ago.  Once was enough.  Especially considering it's the very early days of a Spring that hasn't really happened yet, after a very long, cold winter.  I imagine this bear is pretty darned hungry.  I may just avoid this trail for a bit.

Apparently, this little morsel didn't provide the long awaited breakfast the bear was searching for.  It looks like the bear dug it up out of the snow and carried it for a while before wisely opting out of the food poisoning he would surly have gotten had he eaten it.  This fellow was more than a bit ripe.

In case you are wondering, no, I did not bring it home with me as Carson from the 7MSN would have.  The smell was a bit much.  Bones age well in the desert, not so much in the Northeast.  I was rather intrigued by the teeth on this poor fellow though.  From the looks of them, they may have contributed to his demise.

I imagine that the bear was probably headed for my neighbor's house.  I noticed, or rather Tanner noticed, that they are dumping food scraps out in the woods behind their house, which is not far from my trail.  I think I'll have to stop by and have a chat with them about that.  Their three small children, who like to play in the woods, might not want to run into a very hungry and grumpy bear either.

7 comments:

  1. This is so funny. I am going back through the 7MSN posts from the beginning, and when I read this one today

    http://www.the7msnranch.com/2010/09/labor-of-love.html

    it made me think of your post from the last few days. Seriously, read it all the way through if you haven't before! I logged into blogger to go to your blog and post it, only to see you had a new post, and it talked about the 7 MSN! What a coincidence!

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  2. As I continue to read through these posts, this one is even better for your donkey/burro tongue drinking thing!

    http://www.the7msnranch.com/2011/01/georges-new-water-source.html

    try not to judge me when you realize how far I have read through her posts tonight....

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  3. At least you knew which way the bear was heading!

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  4. Yup, Bears close by would be scary. We don't see them often here, but once in a while one will come down from the mountain in the summer.

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  5. Oh, yeah, your neighbors need to stop feeding the bears! You have a good eye - I would have noticed the big holes in the snow, but probably wouldn't have seen the nail marks.

    Nancy in Iowa

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  6. LOVE the bear tracks! although I'd be tiptoeing around too...
    - The Equestrian Vagabond

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