For Murph re: Bear Interactions

[MurphOnMillerAve]

We have coyotes , too, but have thus far been making their appearances as loners, stalking and, at times, attacking mothers walking babies in strollers , as well as the occasional small dogs and cats.

Also, we have had, for several years, very large birds-of-prey circling overhead in 3's or as individuals with their focus within the neighborhood yards. Some have said they are eagles ; some say they are hawks, or turkey something-or-others , or falcons. All I know is that no matter how high-up they appear to be, they are very large, with wingspans that appear to me to be 4+ across .

[chuck]

Turkey Vultures/Buzzards? Pretty ugly on the ground. Five to six foot wing spans.

They tend to soar around like raptors but their prey is primarily carrion. Since their "prey" is dead or nearly so, they are more likely to be found circling in small groups where most true raptors work alone or in pairs and they rarely circle in pairs. Their primary defense is to throw up whatever they have in their stomachs as it is particularly revolting and causes their attacker to leave. Wing tip feathers are often flared/spread for extra lift and they really aren't great flyers. They are a large bird but look even larger because they are flying lower to use their sense of smell. In your area (and mine) they are summertime visitors (hard to find/smell carrion (or garbage) when it's frozen/buried under snow.

[HONDO74]

Bears Confronting People Inside Kings Beach Stores
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxm0O3s ... e=emb_logo

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Thanks, HONDO, that bear video was a ...revelation. I esp. enjoyed the hotbabe near the end of the video, who was presented as some sort of protector of bears, advising that her solution to help keep bears out of such places was to state that, "bears should not be in such places." Really? Oh, so helpful. WEll,, doll, at least you got to be seen with your magic dark glasses on, very mysterious and pseudo-sexy. Helpful? Not !

Seeing the casual, self-assured and entitled attitude of the bear was very instructive. Very casual.
Thanks.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

As of now, "The estimated population [of black bears in NJ] has soared during the two years of restricted hunts under [Governor] Murphy. The estimated population is now 2,208 bears, up 44% since 2018, and the state has already received more bear complaints in 2020 than all of 2019."

Likely, yet another reason , I think, this is going to be an interesting Winter.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

he estimated population is now 2,208 bears, up 44% since 2018..........

Maybe it's overdue to adjust the human population in number and location.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

he estimated population is now 2,208 bears, up 44% since 2018..........

Maybe it's overdue to adjust the human population in number and location.

Not in New Jersey is there going to be any "adjusting" of the human population as it relates to the bear population's need for habitat. We're always vigilant for the next land that can be cleared for buildings, local natural flora and fauna bedamned, apparently. And the same consideration goes for the damndeer that continue to de-shrub any sad remnants of what used to be my nice yard, which has been a stick garden for quite some time, now.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

he estimated population is now 2,208 bears, up 44% since 2018..........

Maybe it's overdue to adjust the human population in number and location.

Not in New Jersey is there going to be any "adjusting" of the human population as it relates to the bear populations need for habitat. We're always vigilant for the next land that can be cleared for buildings . And the same consideration goes for the damndeer that continue to de-shrub any sad remnants of what used to be a nice yard.

Well, then you all just need to get along with one another! Oddly enough we have more than few deer local and a large wooded park preserving the wet lands and more just a few blocks away. We don't have this shrubbery issues............but something has been attacking my opuntia braziliensis and I am having trouble figuring out what is brave enough to even try a bite of it. Not deer as this tarted on my deck......

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Never underestimate the ability of deer to chew whatever. A couple years ago , I planted holly on the advice of a professional landscaper that it would be too prickly for deer to ever go after. The day after we got the shrubs in the ground, the deer had cleared nearly every branch. The next day, they finished 'er off totally .

[healey36]

My brother, who lives in a subdivision of a couple hundred houses, has had deer eat the foliage off his Christmas wreath hanging on the front door. If they're hungry, you ain't stopping them.

Brazilian Prickley Pear - is that on the invasive list, lol?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Never underestimate the ability of deer to chew whatever.

Pretty sure that a deer did not get up on my 2nd story deck (no steps) to eat one of the nastiest cacti there when there were far more palatable plants present. I have to put on leather gloves to handle these plants.

Something hit the smaller ones on the front porch ignoring the 8' tall one. The deer love the hosta and only very recently am I seeing any of those nibbled on - they generally love the flower stalks, but those were let alone this year

[rogruth]

We don't seem to have a bear invasion in this area but the coyote population is steadily growing.
I understand that the wolf population is also growing.
Neither have been a threat to people. Yet!

I wonder if deer in different areas develop different tastes?
We have some that go through our yard quite often and don't bother any of our plants.
A daughter that lives in eastern Kentucky quit planting many things because they would clean them out the next day.

[healey36]

Cedar and various "false" cedars are a deer favorite. It's not unusual around here to see cedar trees stripped of foliage up to five or six feet above ground. A number of hunter friends of mine have told me that a steady diet of cedar often makes venison unpalatable.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Cedar and various "false" cedars are a deer favorite. It's not unusual around here to see cedar trees stripped of foliage up to five or six feet above ground. A number of hunter friends of mine have told me that a steady diet of cedar often makes venison unpalatable.

Had not heard that but it sort of makes sense - are what you eat....

They used to strip my apple trees of apples up to ~8-9' - watched them up on their hind legs grabbing apples one morning.

Won't have much longer as I'll probably take down the last apple tree next week.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I'm not here and you can't see me.........