Last night while running down from Devils peak on foxglove way I had a fairly close encounter with a big black bear.  Rather then run away looking like frightened prey I stood my ground yelled and waved my arms + threw some sticks.  Didn't take long for the Bear to turn tail and run the other direction.  He was probably about 60 or 70 yds away.  Figures, the one time I leave my camera at home.

Anybody else have a close wildlife encounter they would like to share?

I had a stunning encounter with a bald eagle on Munra Point last weekend. I was by myself, sitting on the ground in a section of 10 foot tall oak trees, catching my breath. My view of the sky was restricted to a narrow corridor directly over the trail. Suddenly I heard something that sounded like a blanket in the wind. I looked up in time to see a huge eagle cross the trail just above the treetops. I could only see him for a split second, but I'll bet he wasn't twenty feet from me. The only sound was the air blowing against his wings.

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What do you suppose is around that next bend?

Ouch, Joerunner, I think you were using the technique recommended for mountain lion encounters. For bears, it's suggested that you not challenge the bear. Talk in a calm, low-pitched manner, do not look the bear in the eye, move slowly (preferably get upwind of the bear so he can smell you), move off the trail if the bear is on it. Don't do the aggressive bit unless the bear actually charges. You're right about not running, though--that definitely makes you prey for either bear or cougar. And I'm glad that what you did worked!

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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.--E.Abbey

Thanks for that information Granny.  Next time I'll modify my behavior and hopefully see the same results.  I forgot to mention that I had my Golden ret. with me and he alerted on something on the east side of Devils Peak then we saw the bear on the West side so I'm sure he was already on the run from us but I vectored his route by accident.  My dog stayed put thankfully but thought that I was acting a bit wierd.

That would have been a stunning sight Steve.  One of those "why didn't I have my camera in my hand" moments.

 

I was in the woods once and had a Cow Elk obliviously walk right next to me and start grazing and shortly there after the calf of that Elk walked right up to me and sniffed me.  

Joe, I saw a black bear last Monday near Ruckel Creek.  Perhaps it was the same one you saw.  Anyway, I got a few photos, nothing great, but posted the trip report "Black Bear and beautiful views" this past week.  I got something of a decent photo as it crested a hanging meadow.  Definately cool that we're seeing them this year!  I think it must be that the snow is keeping them a bit lower at this time!

-Zach

 

I had a cougar purr right next to my head on the other side of my tent one early morning as I laid in my sleeping bag about 10 years ago in the Ochoco's. It was a cougar because he left tracks in camp. That was pretty spooky.

I also ran with a herd of about 50 elk up near Spanish Peak in the Ochoco's about 8 years ago. I ran with them for about 100 yards before they took off down a steep draw. I could have reached out and touched them. I could see the whites of their eyes and hear the cow and calf calls. I could smell the musky odor of them they smelled like wet horses and cattle. That was great!!

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"There is this to be said for walking: It's the one mode of human locomotion by which a man proceeds on his own two feet, upright, erect, as a man should be, not squatting on his rear haunches like a frog." --Edward Abbey

You dont need to go to Pamplona!

chubby fm:

You dont need to go to Pamplona!

HA!!!!

chubby fm:

You dont need to go to Pamplona!

Yeah,,,,, Funny thing was there wasn't a bull in the bunch...all cows and calfs!!

It was awesome though!

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"There is this to be said for walking: It's the one mode of human locomotion by which a man proceeds on his own two feet, upright, erect, as a man should be, not squatting on his rear haunches like a frog." --Edward Abbey

Years ago, on my first "real" backpacking trip with my Uncle and some of his friends, we were three nights into a six day trip on and around Mt. Whitney.  We woke up in the pre-dawn morning to a sound outside the tents, which we would come to find out was momma bear directing a very nimble baby bear on how exactly to climb out the branch where our food bag was currently dangling.  Next thing we knew, the food was on the ground, momma had the bag in her teeth and baby was hurridly scampering after her into the woods.  We decided in soft whispers that none of us thought it wise to interfere with mom and her baby...

Up and around a couple hours later, when the sun was up and we figured the coast was clear, we headed their direction a little bit and found amongst the remnants of many freeze dried food bags, in a perfectly pushed together pile, all of the sugar free hot cocoa and sugar free apple cider mixes that my mom had crammed into my pack...completely untouched and whole.  Turns out, I wasn't the only one that didn't want to carry that tastless junk around in the mountains.

Lucky for us, my uncle had his portable fishing rod and we made due with a diet of fresh fish and nasty apple cider for the next two days.

A very memorable animal encounter and first backpacking trip.  Certainly taught me a few things about bear lines and such!

-aaron

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"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." -Lao Tzu

That was a good one, zombie.

Backcountryhunter

I had a similiar experience in Hell's canyon one year with Elk.  I think Elk are my favorite wildlife to see.  I'm not really looking forward to my first Cougar encounter.

Chameleon

 

Yeah could be the snow.  I'm usually way to noisy to suprise any animals so this sighting was kind of rare for me.  I'd guess that Ruckel/Devils are well within foraging range for a black bear.  You know those berrys are always better over the next ridge.

I'm not sure if this counts, since it occurred at Herron Lakes Golf Course.  I saw coyote come out of the tall grass on the left side of the fairway as we were walking up the fairway after our drives.  It started walking towards us then veered to the right side of the fairway towards the tall grass near a water hazard.  Once it got to the tall grass, I saw it pounce.  The coyote got back up, looked at us non-chalantly; in its mouth it had what looked to be a rodent tail hanging out, it then walked back to the other side of the fairway from whence it came.  All of this occured about 20 yards from us.  It was one of the most interesting wildlife encounters, I've ever had.

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Arne