We reached our five acre wooded lot with enthusiasm to get to our Boeler trailer we were living in. It was kind of exciting to do that while we were building our shed to move into. Talk about roughing it. It was chilly May in the northwest interior of Canada. If you drove by you would see a barely cleared lot, and a makeshift clothesline in the trees, across from the smallest Boeler trailer. My new husband and I had just bought acreage at Cluculz Lake, BC. We didn't know a whole lot about the area. The price was right.
Settling in for the night after being there a short time, we were awakened by the trailer… bouncing. Half asleep we couldn't figure it out, but we were very tired, we fell back to sleep when it stopped short.
We checked under the trailer in the morning to find the stored bags torn apart. It was then we realized it must have being a bear. We were city folk.
The next encounter we did see a bear, the brown bear variety. Coming home from shopping in a small town miles away, we put groceries on the table in our newly built shed. I am not sure where we went. There was much to do around the lot. Walking back to the shed, we spotted a large bear, standing behind the clothesline. A few yards away we saw the cub. We just stood there, and she just stood there. Finally she turned and headed into the next vacant wooded lot. We waited awhile, and then approached our shed home. The loaf of fresh bread was missing! Nothing else on the table or cupboards was touched. Looking around we saw the screen from the window was well ripped, having a large hole. Aha, this Mama was neat and tidy, or just selective. So glad we did not come back any sooner, or we may have come closer to her than at the clothesline!
From inquiring around the neighborhood, we were told that our land was on a bear walk. At that time hardly anyone passed on that land, except deer and fox. The bears were used of the liberty and thought it their land. Well, I guess we had to get used of it. Maybe in time they will know it is our property?
We returned home from the Okanagan where we had visited with our families. It was summer and an excellent time to bring home peach fruit. I was used of preserving fruit. I knew it would be a little awqward on a camp stove, but I loved peaches. We arrived back to Cluculz, very late at night, and very tired. I placed the box of peaches out, at the backside of the shed, where a table was. In the morning I was anxious to start canning. I went outside to find the box, mostly empty! A few feet away I saw the part eaten peaches spewed all around on the ground, and for quite a way. I cried real tears. Will we ever learn!
We had to bear safe our property. This is what we did. No open garbage outside, at all. All garbage in garbage bags tightly sealed and no poke holes, and store in our vehicle, with the windows rolled up, and double-checked. No using compost in the garden. Always watch our backs and make a noise, maybe sing. Things were going smoothly for a while, no bear encounters.
Off to the dump we go, so proud that we are smarter now. Are we? Here we are trying not to encourage bears, and on the road to the dumpster, there is torn garbage bags with litter along the sides. Many bags of litter, even hanging in the trees. I couldn't figure it out. Earle walked-up to the dumpster to drop our bags in. Up arose a huge paw, just missing his hand! Of course it was a large bear. Earle just had to grab a quick look; sure enough it was a very large bear. I was annoyed by Earle having to look and at his laughing. I wanted to go, right now. We went. Were people afraid of the bears' eating spot, or were they too lazy to dump further to the dumpster? Later on that year the dump was closed. There was a well-maintained dump for another lake further up the highway, in which our area was told we could go to. There were bears there too, but up the hill and further away. There were machines to plow and bury.
We thought our newly built cabin house was secure enough. We're in the kitchen eating, when we hear a loud thump against the wall, at the window above the sink! I warn Earle not to go outside to investigate. We wait. Checking later, we see faint mud-like marks on the wall below the window. I am so glad the cabin is built high up. We know it was a bear; the window was open while we were cooking supper. I was told also, that bears really like the smell of dirty baby diapers.
Our encounters would go on. It was the daily life for us and for our neighbors. It was not uncommon to see a bear on your patio or deck, through your windows. I dented a pair of old pots, making a loud noise for the lackadaisical bear that was in the garden digging-up and eating last year's parsnips. That bear did not move any too soon.
A little cub was digging at the bottom of the outhouse and wandered close to the back door. I thought to take a picture through the window, but even as close as he was, the picture was not clear. I did not have my camera with the zoom lens anymore. I would not chance going anywhere near a bear. I have no bear pictures. I put mothballs around the bottom of the outhouse. There are bears out there.
Jessie Eldora Robertson is a Freelance writer & photographer also a seller of digital cameras & accessories on her estore/site; a young-spirited grandma keeping-up and keeping fit.
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» left by Kay Elizabeth(1,661) Kay Elizabeth (1 year 172 days ago.)
Jessie, what a great story! I think I'd have left and not came back if I'd ever saw a bear that close...yes, I have a big yeller streak. :) Enjoyed it, thanks for sharing! Respond to this comment
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