Lovely! Have you seen the video of the zookeepers who are caring for an orphaned bear cub, and dressing as bears so the cub does not attach to humans? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c67kEBX_yT4
I love June in Montréal, warm but not sticky and torrid yet, with everyone out in the parks and on terrasses. We feel we deserve to have a good time after our intense winters.
Hi Emily, lucky you. I've never seen a hedgehog but as long as there's life, there's hope, I guess. Every morning I go around the corner to water the morning glories on their trellis, I hold my breath for fear a bear will be heading through.
Oh, I just thought of another bear story! My great, great grandfather was walking with his dog when they encountered a large and very angry bear. My GG grandfather couldn't call the dog off so he was forced to kill the bear with his walking stick. It's a crazy story, and a little sad, but I think it's actually true.
I love all your bear stories, Barbara. This one with your great grandfather killing the angry bear with his walking stick is amazing. All of my dogs wouldn't shut up when a bear was near-by either. That's the kind of provocation we don't want.
When I lived in the Berkshires, 'second homers' deliberately left food out for them...argh and then bears began breaking into houses including one owned by Gene Shalit who used to be the film critic on the Today Show before he retired in 2010. Gene was one of the well-known characters living in that neck of the woods.
We have a mountain behind us too--a pretty few acres of woods bordering our backyard but subdivided on top. We still see deer and the occasional flock of turkey. About five years ago, we had a very young black bear, lounging and eating grapes off the vine. All the neighbors came out and watched--from a respectful distance.
I've only been very close to a bear on one occasion. I was at lake at a state park near my house with my kids, enjoying a man-made beach that is popular in the summer. An enormous black bear came ambling through like he didn't have a care in a world, as people scattered left and right.
His apparent lack of concern for us humans made such an impression I got in an argument once at party where people kept insisting that "they are more afraid of us than we are of them." I don't think that's true, even though I've known people who have managed to scare them off.
I am in awe of your hawk rescue. How courageous you are! I hope your hand is healing well <3
Yea, we here in north Florida have lizards, geckos, and skinks, of course snakes. There probably are more that I haven't listed. I have not encountered anything of a big concern. When I do my walks I try to be attentive to it all, including birds, plants, and all my neighbors. Such a joy!
What a great visual, Cate! I hope the turtle I saw in the neighborhood was successful in her search and is now back home. Nature is a never ending source of delight.
For years, my late husband and I kept a hefty piece of wood in the back of the VW wagon. There were always snappers on the road in Lanark at this time of the year, and we nudged them to the side of the road where they would not be killed by speeding motorists. At the end of the season, our turtle stick was usually consigned to the fireplace or barbecue. It had been royally chewed in the course of its duties and was not fit for any other use. Snapper mothers have attitude!
Wow, fascinating, especially your close encounter with the hawk! We have mostly just deer and rabbits, a large population of each, living in our yards and roaming our streets, and they've all learned not to fear us humans. As for the garden, I've given up on it this year. I mostly give up every year, but now I think I have a decent excuse -- I'm spending enough hours outdoors every day walking Tjikko. Thanks for this engaging collection of "this and that"!
Oh, Elizabeth, forget the gardening until the young lad has matured. I don’t do much anymore. I get my English garden fix from Instagram and that cutie Monty Don.
Lovely! Have you seen the video of the zookeepers who are caring for an orphaned bear cub, and dressing as bears so the cub does not attach to humans? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c67kEBX_yT4
I love June in Montréal, warm but not sticky and torrid yet, with everyone out in the parks and on terrasses. We feel we deserve to have a good time after our intense winters.
Thank you! I enjoyed the video about the orphaned cub.
June has been very wet where I am but all this lushness is a real gift.
Well that’s June 11th going into my phone calendar!! 😊😊
We’ve had wildlife but… hedgehogs 😂 Not entirely certain my heart would survive having a bear close!!
Hi Emily, lucky you. I've never seen a hedgehog but as long as there's life, there's hope, I guess. Every morning I go around the corner to water the morning glories on their trellis, I hold my breath for fear a bear will be heading through.
I hope you're enjoying your summer.
Oh, I just thought of another bear story! My great, great grandfather was walking with his dog when they encountered a large and very angry bear. My GG grandfather couldn't call the dog off so he was forced to kill the bear with his walking stick. It's a crazy story, and a little sad, but I think it's actually true.
I love all your bear stories, Barbara. This one with your great grandfather killing the angry bear with his walking stick is amazing. All of my dogs wouldn't shut up when a bear was near-by either. That's the kind of provocation we don't want.
When I lived in the Berkshires, 'second homers' deliberately left food out for them...argh and then bears began breaking into houses including one owned by Gene Shalit who used to be the film critic on the Today Show before he retired in 2010. Gene was one of the well-known characters living in that neck of the woods.
Thank you for the lovely post!
We have a mountain behind us too--a pretty few acres of woods bordering our backyard but subdivided on top. We still see deer and the occasional flock of turkey. About five years ago, we had a very young black bear, lounging and eating grapes off the vine. All the neighbors came out and watched--from a respectful distance.
I've only been very close to a bear on one occasion. I was at lake at a state park near my house with my kids, enjoying a man-made beach that is popular in the summer. An enormous black bear came ambling through like he didn't have a care in a world, as people scattered left and right.
His apparent lack of concern for us humans made such an impression I got in an argument once at party where people kept insisting that "they are more afraid of us than we are of them." I don't think that's true, even though I've known people who have managed to scare them off.
I am in awe of your hawk rescue. How courageous you are! I hope your hand is healing well <3
A delightful read. Plants, animals, spring into summer, wardrobe and all that goes with living life to its' fullest! Thank you Frances.
Thank you, dear Linda. I'm wondering if you have large critters in your area...reptiles in particular.
Yea, we here in north Florida have lizards, geckos, and skinks, of course snakes. There probably are more that I haven't listed. I have not encountered anything of a big concern. When I do my walks I try to be attentive to it all, including birds, plants, and all my neighbors. Such a joy!
What a great visual, Cate! I hope the turtle I saw in the neighborhood was successful in her search and is now back home. Nature is a never ending source of delight.
For years, my late husband and I kept a hefty piece of wood in the back of the VW wagon. There were always snappers on the road in Lanark at this time of the year, and we nudged them to the side of the road where they would not be killed by speeding motorists. At the end of the season, our turtle stick was usually consigned to the fireplace or barbecue. It had been royally chewed in the course of its duties and was not fit for any other use. Snapper mothers have attitude!
Wow, fascinating, especially your close encounter with the hawk! We have mostly just deer and rabbits, a large population of each, living in our yards and roaming our streets, and they've all learned not to fear us humans. As for the garden, I've given up on it this year. I mostly give up every year, but now I think I have a decent excuse -- I'm spending enough hours outdoors every day walking Tjikko. Thanks for this engaging collection of "this and that"!
Oh, Elizabeth, forget the gardening until the young lad has matured. I don’t do much anymore. I get my English garden fix from Instagram and that cutie Monty Don.