I knew it was just a matter of time and the bear would be on my deck.  In fact, just yesterday my brother Eric and I were talking about me taking down the last of the suet feeder before the bear showed up. 

I was laying in bed around midnight when the dogs started up with a terrible racket.  I knew right away that there was a bear just by the way the dogs were barking.  They have a very recognizable bark for different occasions.  They have their ~ a customer's here for the bait shop bark, their ~ squirrel bark, their ~ a bears in the area bark, their ~ a bear's in the yard and you better look now bark, also their racoon bark, the wolf bark and the give me some water or food bark.... you just have to know them and you know most of the time what the bark is about.  Well last night it was the bear is in the yard bark and you better get up now to check it out. 

I got up and came out into my living room.  Then I noticed the motion detection light out by the bait shop came on.  There he was ... the bear was standing on his hind feet stretching up and sniffing the light!  Then it got down on all fours and started walking towards the house.  It was coming right for the small deck by the front steps.  I opened up the door and gave a little hollar at him to get off of there.  He just looked at me with that "yeah... I'm really scared of you lady look".   Then he just sauntered off over to the end of the house onto the south deck.  I opened the door there and gave another little hollar at him but he had his mind made up that I could hollar at him all I wanted, just like the dogs could bark all they wanted ... he was on a mission and we weren't stopping him.  He headed straight for the suet on the feeder.  He took his jolly old time eating a little bit of it right there then he snagged the rest off in his jaws and off the deck he went. 

  It was exciting.  In fact.... my goofy heart decided a little nitro would feel pretty good at the moment.  I couldn't believe it!!   All is well now.  I'm okay.  I'm not going to kick the bucket over seeing a bear!!

Oh the joys of living in the sticks.

I would have been terrified Mel! It is so weird to see that bear right outside your door. So he wanted the suet huh? Oh well, hope he stays away.

This sounds like the kind of story great uncle Danny Obenburger would tell his nephews while making the float from 9 mile to Dead Man.

Yes Kevin ... but unlike Uncle Danny Obernberger (just thought I'd correct your spelling) I have the picture to back me up on my story. And speaking of 9 Mile to Dead Man's ... I'm game... when you wanna do it???

I suppose I better clarify here: 9 Mile is a tavern and a starting point on the Flambeau River for canoe trips, and Dead Man's Slough is another landing on the river where canoeist and boaters put on and take out on the river.

I have many a fond memories of floating a canoe down that stretch of river. Thanks Kevin for conjuring them up again and making me think about the 'good ol' days'.

Ahhh!
Bears are beautiful beasties aren't they, but it would scare the beejeebers out of me to see one on my porch...

Shucks, After reading this, I feel plumb silly because there's a rabbit living under our back porch and I've been worried that it may bring parasites that will get on us... Penny puppy is safe but we humans don't hardly have a parasite prevention to put on our neck. lol I can't imagine what I'd do if a big ol' bear came to visit.

Thanks for sharing this. I'm glad that the bear was just being nosey and didn't get into too much mischief!