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Most Unwelcome Visitor of All

Most Unwelcome Visitor of All by stellaretriever.
I hate bears, and not just a little, a LOT.

Please don't call it cute. It is not cute. It is, at its young age, as un-ugly as they get.

I get raided about once a week and each time leaves me shaking with fear and fury. Fear that the f*cker or f*ckers mom will kill my puppy or me and fury that some millionare bastard in Southern Ontario has ruined my life this way.

The spring bear hunt in Ontario was canceled after a propaganda compain funded by industrialist Robert Schad. He had billboards posted in prominent places in Toronto showing the poor orphan bear cubs and the city dwelling population which never sees one of these bastards goes "oh poor babies" and voted to cancel the hunt.

Some of you are probably my contacts. Let me tell something. There are waaayyy more orphans now. Hunters get licenses to kill specific genders and ages of bear. Males only were done in and baiting was allowed. Baiting may seem really unfair but bait will draw the same bears as will show up in a suburban backyard.

My composters were gone years ago and I'm down to 1 sunflower feeder but still they show up. And I am within my rights to kill them (the gun wasn't handy today, unfortunately). And what is more, I don't care if it's a mom or a cub or whatever - unlike a hunter who has to care or get in big trouble with the law.

Next year this guy will be four or five hundred pounds, and he is getting habituated to people. He's a time bomb.

And the swamp behind my house where only one bear lived in 1999 now has a least five, maybe more. And there is not enough food for that many bears in that particular swamp. So they are starving.

So I hope the animal rights folks are proud. The woods are full of starving bears. Great job canceling the hunt. 

Comments

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makeupanid  Pro User  says:

That wasn't YOUR bird feeder in that picture in the paper today was it?
I thought of you when I read it
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Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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stellaretriever says:

The Toronto Star? I haven't seen it yet today but, no, not me. But there are hundreds like me up here. Most of us dont even call the Bear Hotline anymore. The general policy on bear in Northern Ontario is shoot, shovel and shut up.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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sure2talk  Pro User  says:

Your description makes chilling reading. I've always thought bears amazing though fearsome animals but I've never really realised what living with the fear of them being so close would be like. Sometimes animals have to be culled for their own good or for human safety. In the New Forest they have to cull the deer sometimes, not because they are dangerous but because the forest can't support huge numbers of them. I hate hearing the shots but Know it is necessary. What I really detest is people killing animals for pleasure, quite different in my book.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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makeupanid  Pro User  says:

I'm pretty sure it was in the Post as I just found it in the Sudbury Star (another Osprey paper), you've probably seen it

photos.thesudburystar.com/mycapture/enlarge.a sp?userphoto...

and I've read enough and spent enough time up north to know it's NOT a good idea (the cancellation that is)
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Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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mv4  Pro User  says:

that's scary.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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TabaMajic  Pro User  says:

Your story sounds scary, I don't envy you at all. Living in fear all the time sounds nasty. I assume they would chase you too.. yikes, stay safe.
Hey Aussie is a good place to live come on over!!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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stellaretriever says:

Oh, yeah, Oz - where I'd just have to deal with the 8 most venomous snakes on the planet, spiders the size of a dinner plate, and sharks.

I've noticed Ausiie shark attacks are like Ontario bear attacks - unless you find the critter with bit of person hanging out of its mouth, according to the government, it never happened.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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TabaMajic  Pro User  says:

LOL ....not that bad...you are just worked up a little... honest it is better than what you've discribed!!!! Honest!!!!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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stellaretriever says:

Don't get me wrong, I love Oz and after travelling the world, see it as one the few other places I could live than Canada.
And maybe I just love the winter because there are NO BEARS and NO BUGS.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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Sparrows' Friend  Pro User  says:

Oh dear. Yet another example of conflict between people and wildlife. Sorry about your problems, and for the starving bears.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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Hot Flash Photography  Pro User  says:

A sad story and sorry you have to live with this. I suggest you guys round up the bears and put them out to pasture on Mr. Schad's estate. Fascinating shot, though.

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Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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deerluvr  Pro User  says:

I have lived in the north(Sudbury) and now central ontario,(Muskoka) all of my life - it is a fine balance between wild life and people - we take over the wild animals territory, build houses, put out food for the desirable wildlife we want to attract, and then blame the "others" for not knowing that the food wasn't meant for them - I guess that says something about us
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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stellaretriever says:

deerluvr - there isn't any more houses here than there was in the 1990's. I had no problems in the 1990's. A bear was there, I saw him once. It was such an unusual sight in those days people were stopping their cars to have a look at him. The problem is that now there are about 10 more bears there than in the 1990's and the same amount of food.

I didn't even mention the racoon in the recycle bin today. Those guys won't kill my dog.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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deerluvr  Pro User  says:

what about all the building on the outskirts of Sudbury that has taken place since 1999? this has moved all the wildlife into other areas - perhaps yours? - they are losing their habitat - in all the years I lived in Sudbury, 48 to be exact, I neve met anyone that hunted bear - and we had alot of friends that hunted - moose and deer yes - bear - never - at any rate, I live on 26 acres here in Muskoka -right in the middle of bear country - I built a house where bear, racoons, wolf, coyotees, deer etc. have made their homes for many years - and yes, I do put out bird feeders - I risk the bears - I have had bird feeders taken away due to my stupidity and insistance that I feed the birds in the summer - but I bring them in at night and when I am away from the house - this helps somewhat - and I don't walk my rhodesian ridgeback in the woods at this time of year - I don't leave my barbeque out, it is in the garage - garbage is only out on garbage day - my dog has chased bear here - now, we never expose him to the situation where he could be harmed by bear, coyotee or wolf - as I said, it is a delicate balance when we live in an area where wildlife abound - I just don't believe that killing wildlife is the answer - I really strongly believe that educating people how to live in harmony with wildlife is the better answer - I really hope you can come to some harmony and understanding with the wildlife in your area
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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Gone2theDogs  Pro User  says:

Your right...he is deadly.

I would not trust Racoon's either. Bears in the metro part of Minnesota are not that common, but Raccoons are. I have heard my vet tell me many stories of dogs fatally hurt (not just small dogs..labs, setters, pointers) due to fights with Raccoons. Don't trust those claws either.

Seen in my contacts' photos.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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stellaretriever says:

deerluvr - I lived harmoniously for many years with the one bear who lived in the swamp behind this neighbourhood. We all did. Once in while a composter was raided or birdfeeder went missing, no big deal.

It is not possible to live harmoniously (or any other way as far as I am concerned) with an OVERpopulation of near-city bears which is what we have now. And the government propaganda which is totally blame the victim (you have a barbeque? a composter? a birdfeeder? Clearly then this is your fault) doesn't deal with TOO many HUNGRY bears. I don't live in the middle of the freakin bush, I live on the outskirts of a city.

The sad result is, the cub in the picture is as good as dead already, he is doomed. It won't be me that fires the gun, but his fate is sealed. If you think my view is a bit hardline you should meet my neighbours, the ones with small children. The Native guy who lives next to the old-folks home will probably be one that finally does it in. If it doesn't starve to death waiting for the berries to ripen, that is.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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Matthew Carbone  Pro User  says:

Reminds be of when my Dad went fishing and caught a 12 foot long alligator! A very unexpected event...

Keep yourself and those cute puppies away from bears please.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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chardi says:

ohhh gosh i would be terrified, it must be horrible for you having to deal with the bears, knowing that they are hungry,although also horrible for the bears in that area starving.... no simple answer i guess....agreed with above....come & live in Oz lol

great capture by the way
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

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Landersz  Pro User  says:

"He's a time bomb. A terrorist in the making"
wow. didnt think you were full of such bad karma.
the animal rights or whatever you call those people , they will always win..and i mean it..ALWAYS. Bears were in the woods before you moved there, or next to the woods or miles from the woods. But certain humans have a way of going to places and just shooting whatever corsses their path. its sad to know you are one of them.
What i mean is, if you feel threatened by nature... then move to the city... take Chardi's suggestion and move to OZ. lol
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

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