Replies

I've come across black bears lots of times hiking or camping in the Adirondacks. A noise of some type is all it's ever taken to scare one away. They are curious creatures, I've noticed at campgrounds they really like to scavenge around and saw one with his head in an extra large Doritos bag once. He was having a ball. Of course I stay at a safe distance and would shoot a bear if I had too, just never wanted or needed too. When I was a kid there was a dump near Old Forge, NY where the bears used to congregate and go through all the new loot. Tourists would stop by to see as many as 5-10 come out of the woods in the evening to feast. we always stayed way back near the car. The only thing that almost got shot was a guy who thought it would be cute to get close enough to put his son on the bears back for a picture, the guy even said maybe a little peanut butter on the cheek of his kid and the bear could “kiss” him. My Dad spun around, and said to the guy,”Are you crazy? These are wild animals and your son could be mauled or killed. I have a (I don't know what caliber— I was a 8 year old little girl!) in the car and if you take your son one step closer toward that bear I'll use it on you!” Nowadays, dad probably would be arrested but in the late ‘70’s, people actually applauded!