UB- if you're having bear problems...I have a solution. LOL jk

Man, you'd think those guys don't "sneak" well...then again a lot of people get eaten along trails w/o knowing they are there.

I'm fairly certain if I looked out my window and had a brownie looking in i'd crap myself....yup...fairly certain...

Maybe that monitor exhaust got a little hot on his toes.

Probably a dumb question, since you are way off the grid, but is it possible to put up an electric fence?

Just dig a mote and fill it with gators ... hmm that would be a good match up stealthy gator vs. big brownie.

It has always amazed me how quietly a bear can move. They're like a pop-corn fart.

AP:
We are our own grid and I have several electric fences on the way just don't know if they will get here in time. I've used them before and they are effective but the last one got entangled and ruined my fence. Pure economics as the alarms were cheaper but they ate both of them.
Now the request was photos and its photos you got.

This guy was about 150 yards downwind from me getting a really good whiff of my scent.

He was so impressed he walked about 20 feet and laid down and went to sleep for 20 minutes.

Woke up and did a scratchy thingy


Checked me out a couple times during a rain squall

Walked up stream a ways and went back fishing


Think his paw print would measure 8"?

Yes I do!

Is that the edge of a "mowed" lawn in the first picture??
It appears manicured and green.

and what size would you say that bear was?? 8.5 ft??

HR:
Yes that is the edge of an extremely well manicured lawn. My bride is in the running for yard of the year but the plane full of judges hasn't showed up yet.
My guess doesn't count cause I just went over and measured the track.

I would say over 9, but I don't know much.

I know nothing so my guess would be on the edge of really big with few larger. If you have need of a yard stick let me know.

At least he looks happy eating salmon.

If he was the one that visited last night...I think I would consider alternative measures.

I know it would take tooo long for me to send you fence gear....but, if you need any contact me ! posts, wire, chargers, you need it..I can help.

I use a solar charger on the ranch made by Gallagher. Works good on cattle.

That first picture is sure fantastic, and the best one I see for
judging size. Can you haze him over around a 55 gal drum for us?
. Looks like an old boar, nose almost bald (near as I tell
from the pic). I'm guessing his track at about 9 inches as well.

We use the gallagher fencing here too. It's by far the best we've tried. On a short fence I've seen it knock a horse to it's
knees.

Bob, is that a steel "T" post in the left side of the first pic?
(Looking for something for comparision. )

Bob that one looks like a big old boy I would guess no less than 9 probably 9.5

I couldn't stand the drama so I went up and measured the print and although its not exactly DNA its just a shade over 8" which is a match for the paw prints I measured on the windows from last night.

SJ: Can you give me the particulars on the fences that worked the best for you? I have 220, 110 or 12vdc available here. That is a T fence post in the first photo I just don't know how high it is. After I took the photos a saw a really big black one so the horse model is probably what I need.

OM/F2:
Even before I measured the print my guess was the same as yours. The big black one I saw just before dark was longer and its belly was closer to the ground and the fat just rippled in the spotting scope when he walked.

Bob, We buy the fence chargers from a local dealer. They run off a 12 volt battery. We've got five chargers and typically run any where from a mile to two miles of permanent fence at any one time, and usually have two or three smaller temporary fences going. On the permanent fence we use the steel "t" post and hytensile 16 guage wire, on the temps we use fiberglass rods & smaller more flexible wire.
The temp fencing is quick and easy to set up or move.
I've used it around the meat pole on Kodiak. Have had bear pace around the perimeter of the fence but not touch deer hanging 10 feet away. I'll call the dealer here in a bit and PM you more info.

SJ:
Thanks for the info. Rather than fence off the entire large area I think I can make mine work by blocking off two entry/exit routes. The last time I used mine I was impressed but the growler left with a good deal of it.

One thing you have to have is a good ground. We drive a rod about 4 foot into the ground, but we have a lot of wet silty clay
to ground in. In gravel you would probably need to go deeper.
I doubt the solar panel charger would work to well where you're at, but a car battery will work for a month or more between chargings.
I thought that bear was bigger than that. Looks to me like he would square between 9 1/2 and 10 foot. With the old "add an inch" rule that track measurement would make him about a 9 footer.