First Wild Bear Siting :)

**CollieMan** · 08-08-2015, 18:40

I went to the Cohutta Wilderness in N. Georgia and hiked down to Jacks Falls earlier this week. (I found a shortcut that cut off 1.5 miles of the Beech Bottom Trail to the Falls PM me for details if interested) I proceeded another 1.5 miles to the river crossing to get out of the off limit camping area and set up my camp. I then went back to the Falls until night time when I came back and went to sleep.

On my way back to the Falls in the morning at about 10am I saw a black bear about .25 miles from the Falls. It darted around the corner and up the hill into the brush immediately after I saw it and it saw me from about 150 feet away. It was probably about 5 feet tall standing on its hind legs.

I've been hiking this area for a year and a half probably over 20 days and 10 nights. It was exciting to finally see one of these creatures in the wild. I wish I had the opportunity to watch it longer.

Side Note: I also had my first park ranger siting in Cohutta the day before! His name was Mark.

**Shug** · 08-08-2015, 19:50

I fear the Rangers more......they have a badge!
Whooooo Buddy))))
Shug

**Les Rust** · 08-08-2015, 20:06

Nothing like getting close to a bear! Glad you got a sighting--really hard to get pics of those shy bruins.

**Bl@ckbird** · 08-08-2015, 20:08

Very nice... I've seen a few black bears here in Florida but they've been very skittish and don't stick around.

I guess I'm not very quiet in the "piney woods" though. I find I spend more time exploring/playing than hiking.

**Spacelord** · 08-08-2015, 20:09

Originally Posted by Shug

I fear the Rangers more......they have a badge!
Whooooo Buddy))))
Shug

He's after the horse folks. I've seen him and another one named Dale the last couple of times that I have fished there and Conasauga.

**Floridahanger** · 08-09-2015, 19:42

That would have scared me in the woods.

I've seen a huge Black Bear last year on a FS in Ocala. I've seen them years ago while making a pizza delivery late afternoon. I've seen 2 a few weeks ago on FS in Ocala again in morning just before I got to the trailhead. I also almost hit one running across the road last week at 1:30pm on my way to work.

I have seen a mother and cub at Hontoon Island a few years ago and it even fake charged us. There were 5 of us and 2 others on bikes and we were all close to each other so we may have been a little daunting for mom.

All that and I have never seen one while on a solo hike, just fresh tracks, and that's scary enough for me in the early morning. Enough for me to call out to any bear that will listen to me talk and sing to them.

Glad it was a wonderful experience for you.

**sswens** · 08-09-2015, 20:14

Good report thanks fo sharing.

**The Tree Frog** · 08-09-2015, 21:02

I hiked a few miles to a lake at the top of the Pocono mountains in PA. I saw nothing. On my way back out, I reached the bottom of the trail and had to cross a parking lot of a group of condos. There by the dumpster was a mother and three cubs tearing open some trash bags. I almost walked right up on them!

**HangingKayaker** · 08-09-2015, 21:46

Great you saw some wildlife! We often see bears here in Northern Alberta. It's exhilarating but you need to be careful. Always remember we are in their neighbourhood so treat them with the respect they deserve and all will be right.