Hello All: Just a few minutes ago I noticed the outdoor porch light had come on. I looked out the window to see what caused it to light.
There was a black bear on my porch!!!!

I called my son so he came over. The bear was gone but the footprints were still on my porch. Now I am afraid to open my windows at night or go outside in the dark. One thing for sure, it will take some time before I will be able to sleep tonight. Regards, Lil

Aaaaaaiiiiiiiiyyaaaaaa!! as they say here - OMG, OMG, OMG - I'm no help at all, I'd be with you hiding under the covers and you wouldn't get me outside in the yard - ever!!!!!


Seem to remember they don't like ammonia (sensible, neither do I!) - maybe sloosh some on the porch tomorrow....Oh Lil, what to do - call the authorities, obviously...till then, don't go out! Do you have dog/dogs?

Hmmmm, good luck! all the best

Hi Diamond!! Well, I guess the GOOD news is the bear didn't break in!!! Where i live, Pine-sol, (the ORIGINAL icky-scent) FULL STRENGTH soaked on LARGE towels around the perimiter of the porch seems to be a pretty good deterrent.

Now, if you were as unlucky as my friend, the bear got into her utility porch-and RAIDED the 12-packs of Bud she got on sale...caught the bear RED -HANDED punching through the tops with its claws, and GUZZLING it down...she called her neighbor across the street in a panic! During the lengthy phone converstion trying to figure out what the heck to do--(shock, laughter, etc.etc..), the bear had finished the twelve-pack, and was literally STAGGERING across the street, DRUNK AS A SKUNK---WITH a can of Bud in his paw!!!!

She tried the Pine-Sol--didn't have a problem after that!!! (Or maybe the bear had a REALLY bad hang-over, and did NOT want to return to the scene!)
Pine-sol works with raccoons and skunks, too!

Good Luck!!

Brokenwings

Hello Artist: Yes, I have three dogs. That is the problem. Sometimes they have to go out during the night to go potty. If they saw the bear on "their" porch they would surely attack it and could be killed.

There is a chain link fence attached to the porch where the dogs can go while outside. That is where the bear ambled of to as I was grabbing the phone to call my son. If the dogs got out the bear would be cornered and would fight the dogs since it couldn't run off. My little 9 year old Schipperke thinks she is a big dog and won't back down from a fight.

Thanks for the advice about the ammonia. Regards, Lil

Brokenwings: That is so funny!! Regards, Lil

Hi again Diamond-- with the bears coming out of hibernation, they are ESPECIALLY attracted to ANYTHING that smells remotely like "food"...where we live, we do NOT leave ANY garbage out, until the VERY morning of collection, and have to really check the yard for "tid-bits" (chewie-bones that our dogs like to munch on, etc.) . Even so, it is not so easy to convince neighbors of this practice. I guess the best bet is to try your best, use the ammonia and Pine-Sol--the bear will probably just move on.

I can certainly understand your concern about your doggies!!!!!! Gosh--maybe turn on all your outside lights, crank up the stereo, clang on a pot LOUDLY and make a "ruckus" BEFORE you go out with your doggies for their "business"??

Well, I hope this helps...AND that bear doesn't come back!

Brokenwings

I fogot to tell you Diamond--there is a very NICE timeshare near the Summit of our local ski-resort...

Evidently, bears do NOT hibernate all the way through winter!!!

This particular bear has garnered quite a reputation for the "life of luxury"...
Very frequently over the past 8 years during the winter,this bear has been spotted and videoed, and makes the local news ----leisurely swimming in the all-round, outdoor HEATED POOL!!!!! (Hey--maybe he has RSD/arthritis!!!)

The Resort just gave up trying to stop the bear from doing its laps. Now, people BOOK pool-side rooms, HOPING to see the famous swimming bear!!!!!

Brokenwings