What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Friday, May 5, 2017

Friday Foto Friends: The Bears of May

Good Morning Friends!  I was going to do something different for Friday Foto Friends (click here to see more of our friends over at Breathing in Grace) day, but for the benefit of my friends here who are not also on Facebook, I thought you'd like to see our lovely neighborhood "friends" who visit us rather often in the night!  I will just post the pictures here for you to enjoy...without much comment.  I know many of you have never had such a close encounter with real live bears...but remember...these pictures are being taken by a motion activated wildlife camera in my front yard. I am not actually out there taking these pictures, except for the ones of the footprints in the sand...Sometimes we see the bears in the daytime, and I try to get pictures when I can get my camera turned on fast enough to capture them before they run into the woods to get away from us...so the night camera is our best option to see these amazing creatures up close and safely!!!

So, without further adieu, please enjoy the Bears of May...(I have lots more pictures from last month and the month before that, but these were just from the last couple of days!)

My first clue this morning that we had visitors in the night were these footprints in the sand.  (Also, please note on the bear pictures that the date was set wrong on the camera...they were actually taken on May 4th and 5th, early this morning)

We finally had so rain last night! Praise God!  And the sand was soft, so the footprints are quite good...you can even see the claw marks:






There were two sets of prints, going toward our camera (and watering pool) and then away from the camera.  The ones coming toward  were a little smaller than the others...

Because...There were two different bears... This younger, smaller bear was here first, before midnight last night:









And then THIS big mama came later, in the wee hours of the morning, to stay awhile and pose for the camera, take a few drinks, lay down and relax, and then she left for a few hours and then came back at dawn...So I will let you enjoy "Smiley Bear" now:









Smiley Bear has become quite the camera ham!!












How do you like THIS pose?



I'm getting a little tire...think I'll lay down for a while...


Well, maybe just one more drink...

Ahhh, yes, that tastes so good....



Gee, it's getting late...maybe I need to get back up and get moving...


Ha Ha, that was a good one!!



I sure don't like all these leaves on my behind!!



Well, maybe I'll just go this way...back to the woods...

 Look out, here I come!



Oh, excuse me! I didn't see you there so close!!


I got my EYE on you!!!! Watch out!!


Well, I had a nice little nap in the woods, and now I'd better get a move on, it's almost dawn!!



Better get a quick drink before I go...


Almost daylight...gotta get going...

Okay, don't rush me...


I gotta lot of weight to carry around here...you'd be moving slow too!!

(She's so big, I'm wondering if she's pregnant??)


Well, so long folks!! Time to mosey along before the humans get up and see me out here!

Until next time!! See ya later!!


I hope you enjoyed this little frolic with the bears...Until next time!  Be safe!  Enjoy your day! And God bless you always!!!


16 comments:

  1. My goodness! Have you ever encountered a bear as you arrive home late at night? Would one follow you into your garage or house?

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    1. Thankfully, no we have not. They usually run the other direction if they see us coming. We are very careful not to leave any food or garbage out that could attract them. We always try to make noise if we are coming out of the house after dark. Thankfully, these bears are normally more afraid of us...unless they get cornered or if they have their cubs with them. We are very careful.

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  2. Amazing photos. I'm glad you can enjoy them by way of a nature cam though. I'm hoping to get to Cades Cove soon and see some bear too. Have a wonderful day!

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    1. I do hope you will get to see some bears up there soon. I know you are going to love living there. So much new stuff to do and people to meet. So happy for you.

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  3. I did enjoy seeing the bears and I know that outside cam is a safety factor for sure. Have a blessed afternoon and again, thanks for sharing.

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    1. Yes, we enjoy having the wildlife camera so we can see what's going on out there at night...and it has also been a security camera in other ways as well. Thank you for stopping by. It's always such fun to see what goes on when we aren't looking!

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  4. Enjoyed the prints in the sand. Have a day of blessings my friend.

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    1. Thank you Toni! There is always something interesting to see out here in the woods!!!

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  5. This is just amazing! How close to your house is the pool? I think it's great Y'all provide water for the wildlife! Thanks so much for sharing and linking up! The new linky seems to be working out really well! 💜

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    1. The little pool is in our front yard, next to the woods along side of the yard, which abuts the National Forest. They really love it, but they used this trail along the edge of our property connecting to the forest long before we ever put the pool out there. It's such fun to watch.

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  6. When I saw these on Facebook, I had to laugh at the smiling bear. It sure does look like she it happy and enjoying the little pool. Love these visitors and your photos! Installing the camera was brilliant!

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    1. The boys gave me the wildlife camera when we first moved here for my birthday so we could see what was going on at night. I love it! Yes, she does seem to be smiling...and so am I as long as I am safe inside! LOL

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  7. That huge mama bear IS smiling, just as if she knows she is on the camera! Incredible shots, Pamela, and cute captions. Thanks again for brightening my day.
    Blessings!

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  8. Pam: Do they ever do any damage? We had a family move to northern Indiana several years ago. When they came back for a visit, they talked about watching the deer feed in the field behind their house. I have had trouble with rabbits eating the newly sprouted leaves of sunflowers. I don't think I could handle bears.

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    1. Yes, the bears can and do damage at times, but we have been very blessed that they seem to just like to walk through our yard on their way to and from the forest, and they seem to appreciate the water along the way. They do love bird feeders, so mine are inside the "fort fence" . You don't dare leave any kind of food outside, or in your car, because that would be an open invitation for the bears to wreak havoc on your car or any place where food can be smelled... They have been known to break into freezers on enclosed porches or in outside sheds and have themselves a frozen picnic...(not our house, but some neighbors). yes, I have rabbits that eat whatever seeds I have planted for flowers..and deer love daylilies. (But they won't come near them if you put a cake of Ivory soap nearby...!) We are very careful about the bears, and are fortunate that we can watch them from a distance via our camera!

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  9. Pam, thanks for sharing the photos of the bears and even captioning some of them. Light-hearted posts are good to have on occasion. Wildlife can be quite entertaining.

    Blessings!

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