Yesterday, early evening, Karl and I were outside enjoying the evening. We had been playing soccer but were on a break – standing and watching down the drop behind the house toward my nearest neighbor. Suddenly, several deer, at a dead run, ran from our right to left on the game trail at the bottom of the drop. Karl was excited in a different way than just deer…And then I saw the bear. The bear was not chasing the deer, but was on the move and the deer ahead of it….

No photos. I took Karl with me inside – got my camera, but didn’t see the bear again and I think it crossed the road vs turning and crossing my property.

But last year, on September 10, is when I saw a bear last…

Mama black bear and twin cubs – on the same game trail except they made the left turn and crossed my property, south of my house – between my house and the road. I was inside working. Karl was in the side yard. Karl sounded the bear alarm which is different than deer, different than squirrel, different than FedEx/UPS is here…different enough to get my immediate attention and I saw them.

I tore outside grabbing my bear spray (pepper spray) as I went. Karl had seen bears before, but always when we were both inside. He has smelled them and their scat on the trail. But this was the first “up close and personal” kind of encounter and a female with 2 cubs…I didn’t want any kind of confrontation.

Turns out, I needn’t have worried.

Karl barked the entire time and followed but did not chase them. It was exactly as I would have liked – I wouldn’t want him too close and I didn’t want him making them run – they need whatever food stores and fat they have – and although I love seeing them, I don’t want them getting the idea that around houses and people is good as that means their death sentence. Karl herded them across and off the property – barking and moving close enough to keep them moving, but not so close that they (or MAMA!!!) felt seriously threatened. Perfect!

Karl was out with them – I had only voice control, but I never had to invoke it. Karl, Karelian Beardog, did his job and did it well.

When I saw how Karl was working, I ran inside for my camera…but as for me and my job as photographer…I didn’t have the same success. You can see that they are bears though….right????