The Bear Essentials

As snow disappears in the early spring, hungry bears leave their winter dens. Early spring offers the promise of abundant bear foods, but yields no such benefit until grasses grow, bulbs sprout and flowers bloom. Hungry bears lack the option to wait for spring growth. Although bears are generally shy and usually avoid humans, their need for food and their fondness for sunflower seeds often draw them to New Hampshire bird feeders.

This is my friend Sam. She is very fond of wildlife. Sam recently bought a new camera. Sam likes bears, and bears like Sam. They visit often.



This is Sam's bear climbing onto Sam's deck. Sam thinks she is very brave. I think she is a little cuckoo to get this close to a black bear. The bear thinks Sam is especially kind to leave a feeder full of yummy seeds.


Sam is gracious enough to keep her bird feeders hanging on her deck long after April 1, the recommended removal date in New Hampshire.


Neighborhood ursines frequent Sam's birdseed banquet often. They climb her deck and sometimes knock on the door to see if there's a pot of tea brewing. Occasionally they invite Sam to play cards, and they all gather on the deck to play canasta, though the bears seem to prefer pinochle. Sam usually lets them win.