Commentary, musings, Photography

It’s a Bear!

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I saw this lovely fellow standing next to the road leading from Wood Buffalo National Park. His coat was shiny and he was very healthy looking after his long winter sleep.

We stopped and then he stopped, and we looked at each other. He made no attempt to come closer, but just regarded us while I took pictures.

I am concerned at his lack of fear. Most of the bears in my locality quickly run away at the sight of humans, but I’m aware that on this particular road, tourists and locals alike will feed the bears, and they grow to expect that.

This is incredibly thoughtless and careless behaviour, because as the warning signs that are posted everywhere say, “A fed bear is a dead bear.” Bears need to be left alone to forage and to keep a healthy distance from humans.

20 thoughts on “It’s a Bear!”

    1. It’s possible, but I think this guy was waiting for me to offer some food. We weren’t very close; kept our distance, and didn’t stay long. I hope he stays okay and doesn’t start relying on junk from people.

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        1. Yes, they get accustomed very quickly (as most living things do when food is involved) and then they’re in trouble. I know that the park will tag and move bears into the back country if they’re hanging around the road too much, but that isn’t always a solution either as they sometimes find their way back.

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  5. He’s gorgeous. His fur doesn’t even look matted, like I might imagine. I definitely would’ve been scared to stop, especially since he didn’t show fear. I would’ve parked far down the road and used my zoom. He’s huge. We don’t see a lot of them guys around these parts. 😉

    It really peeves me that people feed wild animals. This is the very reason seagulls steal food from people’s hands in Florida. Also, my dad’s wife feeds all the wildlife around their farm. From deer, to racoons, woodchucks, to Fox, and skunks! She thinks it makes her an animal lover, but she’s harming them more than helping.

    That’s a beautiful capture of the bear.

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    1. Thank you Lori. 😊

      He was actually quite a distance away and my M had his foot on the gas in case he started moving, so we we exercised some caution and distance.

      Yes, feeding the wild animals is so bad for them, in more ways than one, and many of the tourists on this road think it’s “cute” to have a bear right at the window of their vehicle – incredibly dangerous. The park tags and moves bears that are hanging around the road into the far back country, but they get so imprinted that some find their way back and then they will be shot. It’s so, so sad.

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    1. Hahaha. 😊

      Thank you, Brian. 🙂 Just be sure to eat lots of carrots, and then you can have a fashionably orange-tinted pasty glow. I understand it’s all the rage in some quarters. 😉

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      1. Ah, now I understand. The carrots are key. This makes sense. When I tried to survey the damage whilst standing in front of a mirror, I blended in with the white wall behind me and I couldn’t find myself. The carrots will rectify that… 😉

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  7. What a great picture! You are so brave to photograph that bear. I would have screamed and run, which would have probably been the wrong thing to do. And then I wouldn’t have any pictures afterwards!

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    1. Isn’t he? My picture doesn’t really do his coat justice, because it was an almost blue-black colour and very shiny.

      I hope he’s moved by the park into the back country where he will be a lot safer. 🙂

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