Bears

The town of Arnold, California, is located in the Sierras at an elevation of 4000 feet with a tiny population of approximately 4000 people. We purchased a small home in Arnold with the hopes of it becoming a family gathering place and a location for spontaneous getaways. So far it’s been all remodeling repairs etc. but there have been unexpected beautiful discoveries!

I’ve already discussed my love of dogs, but I’ve also had a profound interest in bears. As a child, my preferred toy was a teddy bear, and as an adult, I collected teddy bears. I never really thought I’d have an opportunity to be up close and personal with the real animal, but that all changed in Arnold.

I’ve read about the animal Corridors in Canada, where animals follow the same trail year after year. I think the house in Arnold was built right in the middle of one of these Corridors here in California. It didn’t take long while working on the house in Arnold before I realized that we had a large number of animal visitors. Hoping to catch pictures of my furry guests, I began setting up field cameras around the house. I particularly was hoping for a photo of a bear. As time passed, however, I had zillions of pictures of deer, foxes, skunks, squirrels, bunnies, and even a coyote, but no bears. Then one day I had my first photo of a bear, and from that point on, I was more successful than I could’ve ever envisioned.

To date, I have collected many photos of bears and other animals, which I look forward to sharing with you. I have so many pictures that I’m beginning to recognize each visitor by their markings and by the way they move. I will try to indicate those animals that I know either by markings or by “juvenile” or “adult.” I posted three photos below.

The first photo is of particular significance. I just finished inserting the memory cards back into each of my five field cameras, and the young bear walked right in front of the house. We missed meeting one another “up close and personal” by a matter of a few minutes.