Face To Face With A Black Bear In Your House
BY Herschel Smith
8 months, 3 weeks ago
They awoke around 3 a.m. Thursday morning to their dog barking downstairs. When Bolkcom went to check out the commotion, he found a black bear in his living room.
Bolkcom grabbed his gun and shot the bear, chasing it from room to room before it finally collapsed after several shots.
The bear was 250-300 pounds, and F&S says he used a 10mm handgun.
Chalk up another win for the 10mm, but I still say that a 1911 shooting 450 SMC cartridges would be just as effective, if not more so.
On August 14, 2023 at 10:55 pm, Dan said:
Not going to call this one a “win” for the 10mm. He had to chase after it and shoot it severla times to kill it. If said bear had decided to rip the homeowner a new sphincter the outcome could have been much different.
On August 15, 2023 at 5:25 am, Wes said:
Animals that are amp’d up can do amazing things even when perforated with large bore cartridges. Placement is key; gotta flip the main circuit breaker.
On August 15, 2023 at 5:54 am, jrg said:
I’m guessing black sights on a black fur coat with additional “I just woke up 10 seconds ago” may have contributed to the shot count. I’m glad the home owner was able to resolve the issue with no humans hurt.
I’m curious as to how the bear was able to get inside the home. Was smell of trash just inside the door a bait for the bear to enter the home ?
On August 15, 2023 at 9:32 am, Don't mind me. said:
What kind of round?
10mm FMJ works better than HP on thick hides.
On August 15, 2023 at 8:49 pm, Sisu said:
This linked article reads as if an “excuse for a ‘demonrat'”. … I am tempted to edit as if I were the bear. … The reporter cannot discount the “attractants” enough; but does not ask Ms. Webb how she “knows” (or for a definition of “attractants”).
To be young, in a cabin, amongst nature, having already “pledged” faith and fidelity (yet not for …) …
“There’s a pretty long list of potential bear attractants out there, …”
Thanks for the memories.
On August 15, 2023 at 11:55 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
A bear’s sense of smell is positively otherworldly – especially in comparison to that of a human. About seven times more acute than a bloodhound, and more than two-thousand times better than a typical human.
During my days doing forestry and wildlife biology in S. Ontario and N. Minnesota as a young man, it was stressed over and over again that one must take steps to store food properly. In camp while in bear country, nothing enticing-smelling or appetizing in any way was to be on or near you or your clothes or your tent, anything near where you planned to sleep. Not just food but cologne and after-shave, deodorant, even mint-flavored toothpaste or mouthwash.
Women who were menstruating were strongly counseled not to venture into the woods until their cycles were complete, or if they planned to go – they had to use impeccable hygiene.
Food was to be cooked and eaten some distance from camp, and no food or anything in contact with it was permitted near the tents. Food packs were either hoisted high into trees or sometimes buried under a pyramid of “noise-makers” pots and pans and whatnot.
Moreover, a fire was to be kept going around the clock, and someone kept watch at all hours of the day or night. We often camped on islands, which minimized the exposure somewhat but bears swim just fine, so we took precautions anyway.
Similar safeguards need to be taken by people who live in homes in bear country. It is also highly-recommended that garbage be packaged securely and put in an enclosure some distance from the home or if possible burned or buried. The problem with burying food scraps or garbage is that bears have been known to smell items buried as deep as ten feet under ground, and then attempt to dig them up.
My older brother and his family had a place – a two-story log home – in the mountains in eastern-central Arizona. They didn’t live there year ’round, and only had a caretaker who dropped by every week or two. Black bears broke into the place several times looking for food, even though the house was empty. They still smelled food even though it may have been weeks or months since anything had been inside, that’s how acute their sense is smell can be.
Special security measures are needed to keep bears out. Since they are immensely strong, they can penetrate barriers that would stop most humans. If a hungry adult bear encounters a door he can’t figure out how to open, he’ll just tear it off its hinges. That’s whether it is your front door or a car door.
The real trick is to minimize anything which will attract them or make them curious in the first place.
In Arizona, the bears typically become more inquisitive and intrusive when there is a drought and/or food shortage in their usual habitat areas. This is when they come down out of the mountains and start getting into people’s garbage, going after pets and so on. They had a fatal attack out there not all that long ago.
On August 16, 2023 at 11:18 pm, TheAlaskan said:
In these parts, there be bears, always. Everything we do attracts the buggers. A given. We all pack bear medicine. As a rule, if you see a bear, its a problem. Act accordingly. Alaska fish and game issues generous black bear tags…five bears. No charge, 6 month season. We don’t have bear problems. Only Cheechakos have bear problems. Oh…and climate change backpackers.
On August 16, 2023 at 11:24 pm, TheAlaskan said:
Saw a wolf today. Were there’s one, there’s another.
Google Candice Berner.
Gather the children.
On August 17, 2023 at 4:27 am, Joe Blow said:
Lol, I saw a S&W 460 Revolver for sale in a local classified… I have developed a weakness for shiny wheelguns for some reason? Must be another tick-borne illness on the rise.
How could I BS, I mean convince the wife? What in the world would I ever need one of those for? I love my 686… cuz 357 is a great all-around round. But WHY would I need a revolver in something like 460SW?!?!
Thank you captain, now I have to go find that classified ad!