Went with a friend to the Pocosin Refuge yesterday to look for/at bears. This is in very wild area of eastern NC. They plant lots of corn and beans, harvest about 1/2. In the late winter this area is full of swans. With the corn beginning to come in, the bears are coming out of the woods and heading for the corn fields. We saw 15 or so. We were in a truck, and some of the telephoto lens were fairly significant. Here are some highlights. Big boy rooting around in the mud, We watched him 10+ minutes never figured out what he was up to: Mom and three cubs. We saw two more with 2 cubs each! The mom came out on the road, about 100 yards ahead of us. Two cubs came out, and mom stayed in the road, looking back and forth, finally, the third cub came bounding out of the woods. This guy was stripping berries off some really rough branches. At about 40 yards! This one had two cubs, though you cannot see them here!
Yep. Friend of mine just back from a trip where he killed one. Said coat was not too nice due to just coming out of hibernation. They didn't even eat the meat. Said people up there didn't either. Think it was Alaska. Sure this won't be a popular opinion, but, as for bears, they should all be shot/killed on sight in my opinion. Cannot understand the efforts to get population established in Louisiana. They are a menace.