Dry Weather = Bears and snakes?
#6916433
07/01/20 08:22 AM
07/01/20 08:22 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,890 MN
160user
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OP
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It has been extremely dry here and there are bears and snakes everywhere. Has anyone else noticed this? Everyone around here has been seeing bears at all hours (including a sow with FOUR cubs) and garter snakes everywhere. I have never seen so many snakes or as big of ones.
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: Dry Weather = Bears and snakes?
[Re: 160user]
#6916435
07/01/20 08:27 AM
07/01/20 08:27 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 14,869 Greene County,Virginia
run
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trapper
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Greene County,Virginia
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We got all kinds of snakes here in Virginia. Rain or no rain. Bears are a bit hit and miss in my experience.
wanna be goat farmer.
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Re: Dry Weather = Bears and snakes?
[Re: 160user]
#6916469
07/01/20 08:55 AM
07/01/20 08:55 AM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 800 MN
oneeyedtrapper
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MN
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Re: Dry Weather = Bears and snakes?
[Re: oneeyedtrapper]
#6916471
07/01/20 08:56 AM
07/01/20 08:56 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,890 MN
160user
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I wish I could post the video with all 4 cubs.
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: Dry Weather = Bears and snakes?
[Re: 160user]
#6916494
07/01/20 09:16 AM
07/01/20 09:16 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,324 Northern MN
Osky
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160..... the Bears are crazy up here as well, but no more than normal it seems. Every year I notice a big uptick in activity around this time I believe mostly due to the breeding season ending and the boars are looking hard now for food and the sows and Cubs are braver without the horny boys pestering them as much. It does seem the dry conditions are knocking back the natural foods a bit too this year, the Bears may be particularly hungry. Snakes I have no clue.
Osky
"A womans heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth, and I can find no sign on it" Jabless in Minnesota www.SureDockusa.com
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Re: Dry Weather = Bears and snakes?
[Re: 160user]
#6916497
07/01/20 09:21 AM
07/01/20 09:21 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,890 MN
160user
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Osky, I have had 2 enclosed deer stands damaged by bears so far this spring. They have chewed on the lumber, busted windows out and climbed up in them to eat the chairs. They are acting weird. There are still red oak acorns on the ground from last fall to eat and tons of white clover.
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: Dry Weather = Bears and snakes?
[Re: 330-Trapper]
#6916514
07/01/20 09:30 AM
07/01/20 09:30 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,890 MN
160user
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Thanks. A group of pigs like that would sure clear out a landfill or dumpster in a hurry. Diapers wouldn't stand a chance!
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: Dry Weather = Bears and snakes?
[Re: 160user]
#6916538
07/01/20 10:01 AM
07/01/20 10:01 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,324 Northern MN
Osky
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trapper
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Northern MN
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Osky, I have had 2 enclosed deer stands damaged by bears so far this spring. They have chewed on the lumber, busted windows out and climbed up in them to eat the chairs. They are acting weird. There are still red oak acorns on the ground from last fall to eat and tons of white clover. Yea I know 160... There is swamp cabbage and other things as well. I always figure when that odd stuff happens it's because in a leaner year their body craves certain chemicals more. Maybe they are having salt cravings down there? Have any blocks out from last year that have been hit? I have tried good acorns and had them all rot on baits untouched. Had the same happen with fresh hazelnuts, un imagineable to me had I not seen it. If you go online and find some of the writings/papers of Karen Noyce who was our states leading bear authority at the DNR in Grand Rapids you may find some answers. She is brilliant with black bear knowledge. Flip side, they are bears. After over 40 years of chasing them they continually surprise me. Osky This just came to mind. Remember the current head of the states bear program " crap for brains" has become an anti hunting advocate. Yes I've dealt with him and so have others here. We have so darn many bears right now it shocks me. They are spreading to Dakotas and Iowa and everywhere in between. This clown in charge says they are threatened and keeps lowering the available tags. Could be too many for the resources to support having an effect as well.
Last edited by Osky; 07/01/20 10:07 AM.
"A womans heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth, and I can find no sign on it" Jabless in Minnesota www.SureDockusa.com
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Re: Dry Weather = Bears and snakes?
[Re: 160user]
#6916543
07/01/20 10:08 AM
07/01/20 10:08 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,890 MN
160user
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OP
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I had left over salt/mineral blocks out from last year and they all got fresh blocks this spring. The bears haven't touched them at all.
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: Dry Weather = Bears and snakes?
[Re: 160user]
#6916594
07/01/20 11:08 AM
07/01/20 11:08 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,011 Wisconsin
8117 Steve R
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Wisconsin
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I don't know the reason, but I have seen lots more bull snakes and garter snakes than in previous years. Still haven't seen any copper bellies though.
Steve WTA NRA
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Re: Dry Weather = Bears and snakes?
[Re: 160user]
#6916598
07/01/20 11:12 AM
07/01/20 11:12 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,966 rogers city mi.
jeff karsten
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rogers city mi.
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Seen a couple Big Boys wandering around in good light lately Snakes have been scarce around here for a couple years now Turtles for some reason are all over
olden tyred
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Re: Dry Weather = Bears and snakes?
[Re: 160user]
#6916761
07/01/20 01:53 PM
07/01/20 01:53 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,524 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
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james bay frontierOnt.
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Way more garter snakes here this year so far than is the norm. I have seen a couple times over the years when blackbears,when overpopulated get some kind of gut rot.Plenty of food to eat,but the ones affected are just skin and bones. The years when this happens it becomes noticable in the fall when most bears have short fur and should be noticeably plump,but are not.The couple times I have seen that in bears was in fall with bumper crops of blueberries,and the bears were feeding heavy on them,but unable to fatten up.
Last edited by Boco; 07/01/20 01:54 PM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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