• Tuesday-What'sUP August 23 - 01:19 pm

Throughout the summer, most U.P. backyard bird feeders get quite the work from the minuscule hummingbirds, to a much larger and darker visitor, which Bonnie Rendel caught with his snout in the cookie jar, so to speak! Seems that Bonnie has a number of bears that visit her feeders and she's gotten pretty quick on the draw with her camera, capturing them on film. If you've been a long-time viewer, you may recall the shot she shared with us back in Sept. 2002, of one walking on its hind legs, checking out her garden. Her son Brian, relates a story about his Dad napping peacefully, when a warm, moist sensation on his cheek woke him. Opening his eyes, he found himself nose to nose with a bear. Scaring the wits out of each other, both Dad and bear took off in opposite directions! Special thanks to Z-Man for providing us with a vision of what those first waking moments may have felt like, staring into the face of big, black bear! :->

Like a big squirrel with no tail!

Great shot!

My Dad used to tell a great story about his and my Mom's stay in Mclain State Park for my graduation from MTU (late '70's). Dad left the camper about 4A.M. to use the campground facility and was surprised that their pet springer had come along for the early walk. When he got to the light at the facilities, he found "Willie" was a cub bear, following him through the park!! Being a hunter and woodsman his whole life he stayed in the facility a good long time until he was sure Junior (and his no doubt nearby Mamma) were gone! Thanks for another great picture and memory!

Päivää from SUOMI!
Elegant and interesting picturecouple today!!!

It almost looks like this guy was em-bear-est about being caught on film.

Down here below the bridge, we often have deer visit our bird feeders and my kids think that it's so cool. I'm glad that I've never had a bear visit! That close up is very cool!

Bear pictures are my favorite, especially the past one of the bear walking upright down the driveway. I enjoy showing them to my students who never get to go up north, whose idea of a vacation is going to Cedar Point! They have no idea what exists in Michigan! Back to school Thursday, but I'll get in one more trip at peak color.

We were at Craig Lake State park (north of champion) this weekend and got a chuckle out of the sign at the trailhead parking lot.

THIS IS BEAR COUNTRY
Bears are common in the Porcupine Mountians.......

ooops, wonder if there is a sign somewhere in the Porkies saying:

Bears are common to Craig lake...

lol

Funny to see the choice of pictures as we were just discussing bears. One of the guys was talking about a place he visited where the guy feeds the bears. He has videos of himself feeding them oreos by hand and some of him feeding them by putting the oreo in his mouth and having them take it out! The bears actually will walk to a window and push down on a board on the sill so the window opens and they can have their cookie! Talk about a walk up window...

I was searching though the Pasty cam Archives (to look for a picture of my dad shoveling snow at stillwaters--- still searching by the way) Anyways I saw a picture in the March 1998 file were gas was ONLY $1.09. It makes me cry. I just put in $35 today....So sad.......

Well I'm going to continue searching.... have a great night.

W O W !

At first glance I thought this was a wood carving and was wondering who the creative carver is. The expressions tell us these bears have things to do and places to go. I'm glad I can study them from my easy chair.Verrry interesting!

My hubby has also woken up to snuffling in the ear, while sleeping out on a beach. The next morning's breakfast was tucked in his coat pockets, and the coat was rolled up for his pillow. Not really the type of 'night visitor' that most guys hope for!