My first Black Bear encounter here on my farm in Jackson County Ohio, USA. It was today May13th, 2026 at 1:40 PM.
I was seated in just a pair of shorts nearly dozing off on the pond dam to my farm pond behind my house when I heard very heavy footsteps walking down hill in the Northeast corner of my pond. I was seated in the chair in the pic provided on the Southwest corner of the pond at 1:40PM 13:40 hrs. I thought what hunter got lost and wandered onto my property and is walking down to ask me directions. There are no farms or homes for at least one square mile in any direction of my farm. Then I heard the footsteps stop just out of my sight in the woods just behind the pond, the wind was blowing from the South to the Northeast, and as the footsteps stopped. I heard the distinctive sound of a Bear Huffing and Snorting a warning like I have heard when out bear hunting in Canada. The warning sound they give off when they smell something they do not like and want to warn that something not to come closer and that something needs to move off. This went on for four minutes straight and thinking I did not want a bear attack I went to the house and retrieved a 45-70 riffle and walked back to my chair. I heard the bear turn and move up hill quickly from that point now 1:45 pm 13:45 hours. I sat down in my chair outside for the next couple of hours and relaxed semi nervous like and could not doze off like I had planned initially to for some reason. The bear probably smelled the pond water first before smelling me and being in a mild Drought it only probably wanted a drink of water and maybe to fish some itself.
We have a LOT of black bears in western Massachusetts. I have seen many while camping out there. THAT is also in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. We call that portion of the Appalachian range "The Berkshires".
In MY area, in Plymouth and Kingston and surrounding areas, we have coyotes in the most recently built developments. My former sister-in-law lost a couple of cats to coyotes.
@onewithshoes Well I do 100% recycle and composting so I do not have a trash day, and I knew they were re-establishing in my area of the state, I just did not think I would have a daytime encounter with a bear like I had.
They’re pretty exciting and scary to see aren’t they! Nit really aggressive though so he was probably just looking for a swim or to catch fish in your pond.
I have a question- do you take that gun everywhere with you? I think I’d be more afraid of the bug gun than the black bear 😂
@Jenny1234 I thought he was coming to get a drink or maybe fish around my pond, but if you have ever been in the wilderness area with bears or ever hunted wilderness areas with bears you would know certain facts which you seem uninformed upon. One I have done both and worked with biologists, so I know these facts.
1st Fact: That bear was giving me a clear territorial warning that this was his territory and he was ready to fight for it. 2nd Fact: Black bears when they decided to attack, they attack to kill and eat immediately unlike the Grizzly where playing dead the Grizzly will walk off and come back later. 3rd Fact: Black Bears reaching 300 or more pounds no longer fear humans and yes could see them as menu Items. 4th Fact: If you are afraid of firearms them you are the person that should never own one. You would be the dangerous person with a firearm.
@GoFish Me too! I like my tanning time an sometimes being so rural I tan all natural (But not today) I just wanted to relax and doze off maybe, but NOOO Yogi had other plans.. LOL. So it gave me a little nervous feeling! LOL
@Cigarguys When my kids were being raised by me here all by myself I also had Two Rottweilers, they kept everything away from the home. My last one died last May and I have not replaced him yet, but that will be happening sooner than later.
They are expanding their territory. There are approximately 2000 or more in Maryland now with a good portion in my home county. One was spotted last year just down the street from me. I'm also told we have coyotes although even being in a very country rural area I've never seen or heard them
@WillaKissing when I was a kid a bobcat had kits in the culvert of a creek bed behind our house in Kensington MD. The neighbors actually looked after her and gave her food
@WillaKissing my landlady has had that problem with foxes. I expect my neighbors new chickens to bring the foxes back up front here. I haven't seen any in a while
@JimboSaturn Not too fast at first I could not believe it and got up and tried to walk to where I could possibly see the bear, then after about 30 yards of walking my mind said "Hey Dumb Ass that's a Bear like a real life bear not at the zoo", then the heartbeat picked up as I headed to the house for the rifle just in case.
@Musicman I did get my phone to take a pic too. But it never came out of the brush, and it decided after our little stand off to move away without a drink.
