January 19th 2025 Fellow shoots black bear off his neighbor.

Man walking home from store stalked and attacked by black bear.

Neighbor sees the attack pulls handgun head shoots the bear stopping the attack.

https://www.wnep.com/article/n...35-9700-2b548d4a167c

Wow, tested positive for rabies too.

The bear looked very young and quite scrawny. There are probably more rabid wildlife out there/in that area.

There is a rabies outbreak in skunks in SW Missouri too.

I saw where they were going to test the bear for rabies.

I haven't seen that the test came back

Yeah, it did. Rabid.

Crazy!

Don't they hibernate? I didn't think it was that warm this winter.

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:
Don't they hibernate? I didn't think it was that warm this winter.

They are suppose to.

Son and GF were in Kentucky a few months ago for some hiking. All kinds of bears all over the place , people almost treat them like pets. Asking if the should take bear spray, they were laughed at.

they don't hibernate where it's warm.

that's why if you want a BIG black bear you go to like south Carolina where they just keep on eating year round.

but it isn't unusual for a bear to wake up mid winter and try to find something to snack on before going back to it's den.

quote:

Asking if the should take bear spray, they were laughed at.

Familiarity breeds contempt.

Dang! This will keep me carrying a pistol when I go out for a walk!

Yeah, they don't hibernate here... as I understand it they take some longer naps when it's really cold but no hibernation.

High-country bears migrate down into the lower country eating acorns when it starts to snow up high.

Bears are hibernating here. Hopefully.

Over the years there have been attacks in areas where they should have been asleep.

If one sees a bear out in mid winter when they should be asleep.

Be very careful.

This morning at 25below I found fresh wolf tracks in the driveway.

My 686+ is my normal morning walking sidearm.