Bears out already?

[Woodchuck]

So I just got a phone call from a guy that i do believe knows what a bear is and said he just saw one out in a field. Seems pretty early to me 

[BIGINNER]

nope.. its bigfoot 

[BIGINNER]

no bears in washington

[Woodchuck]

good point, i will correct him 

[dreamunelk]

Bears will come out of their dens for many reasons.  They do not go in to a true hibernation.  It is more of a torpor. They still have to remove bodily wastes.  Also been documented in Washington that sometimes they will come out for a quick bite to eat.  Some of the boars apparently like get up and find a sow with cubs and have a cub snack.  Can't remember the paper or author at the moment, but this was documented on Long island.

Unfortunately what your friend may have seen was a bear that did not reach a good body condition to enter hibernation.  Been a really bad year so I expect this is the problem.   Been lots of reports this year of bears still raiding bird feeders, garbage cans, and etcetera.  This year does not look to be much better for them.  I am betting a lot of skinny bears get harvested this spring.

[billythekidrock]

I have been expecting to see sign at anytime. With the warm weather and fresh grass growing it won't be long.

[millertime89]

I'm sure they are all confused this winter.. At the end of late archery over here by Spokane it was muddy and green... and then back below zero ha..

[grousetracker]

the wife and i found a big den last year that had a bear in it,checked it on monday and it had a bear in it. i shine my light in there and could see his or hers back.

[ICEMAN]

the wife and i found a big den last year that had a bear in it,checked it on monday and it had a bear in it. i shine my light in there and could see his or hers back.

Did you make her look first?    That has to raise the hairs on the back of the neck if you ask me...... 

[billythekidrock]

Did you take any pics? A couple years ago we snuck up on a den that was occupied a couple weeks earlier, only find it empty.

[woodman]

I took this pic at the end of January. It has long stringy half digested grass in it. Does it look like bear to you?

[billythekidrock]

Looks like dog to me.

[TheHunt]

Looks like baby big foot to me.

[boneaddict]

It was 65 degrees at my house yesterday even with 30mph winds.   As stated, bear are less likely to perma den in areas on the westside and climates like here.  Now the NE corner and the Methow are a different story.  It easily could have been a bear. Lots of black calves on the ground too.

[sisu]

the wife and i found a big den last year that had a bear in it,checked it on monday and it had a bear in it. i shine my light in there and could see his or hers back.

Did you make her look first?    That has to raise the hairs on the back of the neck if you ask me...... 

Try a griz! We were staking some homestead land between Moose Creek(kroto ck.)& the Parks Hyw when I walked thru a little raised area on the property approx. 100x100 ft. I saw a hole near the base of the biggest tree there and walked over to check it out. I looked in & looking right back at me is a big brown beady eyed bear! Nearly crapped myself, no weapon, chain saw, ax, surveyor's tape etc.

Our homesteading group went back either a week or two later, armed with bear weapons not ptarmigan & grouse guns, to check out the den. The bear was gone this time but it had either found a dead moose or killed one because there was one antler there, bones, hide but all important protine was gone.

We talked with the local bio for that area and he said the griz & black bear don't crash out all winter. They get up wander close to den go back.

BTW we crawled into the den and it fit three adult males and three young boys all with winter sno-go gear on, and when I looked at that bear it seemed as if he filled it up real well! It was well insulated with about a foot deep in dry grass that was actually comfortable.