Busy beach

Last week we had some guys at Hilltop Lake.  One morning they woke to moose tracks in the sand in front of the cabin and the next morning bear tracks.  They were fishing so they had to settle for that very thin “track Soup”. 

The hand prints were added by the photographers – likely to show the size of the tracks.

Makes you wonder how busy those animals are at night and how close they can come without us seeing them. 

Ready for Winter

I came across this bruin the other day.  Or should I say he came across me while I was out enjoying the afternoon.  My vehicle was a good 300 yards away.  For a moment I wondered if I could run faster scared than he could hungry.

No worries however since either he wasn’t hungry or I didn’t look succulent enough. In any case, as is the norm he just ignored me and walked away. 

Looks like he is well ready to snooze through the winter.

Don’t feed the bears

OK so this was photo shopped a little. The message remains however. Bears are not usually a problem around our camps but if they are fed, they come back. When they come back they begin to be a problem.

Keeping garbage bagged and in the shed, keeping used fish oil in a sealed container inside the cabin, not leaving fish remains or other food outside the cabin are good first steps to a bear free week.

In case you were looking for the photo shopping in the photo, the bare (naked) guy in the window was removed.

more wildlife

Bringing your camera on a fly in trip is good for more than taking pictures of your fishing partners in their underwear. Our part of the country is blessed with many types of wild life just aching to be photographed. All these pictures were taken with in days of each other in early August. The moose and loons were on Hilltop and the caribou and bear were on Seseganaga Lakes.
It is interesting how all these animals are comfortable in and around the water.






Adult and juvenile loon (I would call it a baby but Karen insists it is juvenile)













Young bull moose practicing his disappearing act before hunting season.













Loon dancing on the Hilltop creek.














Black bear moving between berry patches.













Mother and calf caribou trolling on Seseganaga Lake.

Bear Business

I am regularly asked about bears. The chances of you seeing or encountering a black bear are low however bears live in the bush and our camps are in the bush. Bears are seldom a problem but occasionally one will wander by our cabins. If they find nothing to eat, they move on. Bears are very happy eating berries. If someone advertently or inadvertently is careless enough to provide a bear a meal, the bear can become a problem.

Black bears are nothing like friendly cartoon bears. They are smart, curious, powerful and potentially dangerous.
Black bears prefer to avoid people. The most common encounter is the one you didn’t know happened. The bear heard or smelled you, and left.
Remember, at our camps, you are a visitor in the bear’s home range, so do all you can to avoid encounters.

A few facts about bears:
Black bears can range in colour from blonde through brown to black.
There are no grizzly bears in Ontario.
Once bears learn to access human food, we have few options besides destruction of the bear.

If You Encounter a Bear Do not approach the bear. Slowly back away while watching the bear and wait for it to leave.

Most problems between black bears and humans occur when bears are attracted by the smell of and rewarded with an easy meal. When bears pick up a scent with their keen noses, they will investigate it - even at our outpost property. If bears are rewarded with food, they will return as long as the food source continues to be available. Also, it is always wise not to settle in for a shore lunch near fresh -still warm - bear scat. Scat is the solid by-product of bear food and is usually black in low piles with lots of seeds in it.

Here are some tips to help avoid Bear visitors.

Never purposely feed bears (or other wildlife) or try to approach them
Keep garbage in the cabin until the bag is full then store it in the shed. Do not leave the garbage bags on the deck or outside.
Remove grease and food residue from barbecue grills, including the grease cup underneath, after each use
Do not leave cooking grease/oil outside at night.
Do not pour grease or bacon fat in the fire place or fire pit. When grease or fat burns, the dinner bell is rung for the bears.
Dispose of fish remains and extra food daily at the designated spots across the lake – not behind the cabin or off the dock.
You are responsible for your own personal safety. Take precautions when you are in the outdoors.
Be sure that all your garbage flies out with you
Do not burn cans, tinfoil or other items which really is garbage.

Visit ontario.ca/bearwise to learn more

Bear Bells are handy to have as well as an air horn but Pepper Spray is absolutely prohibited on aircraft. You can imagine the fun you would have on board if it was accidently discharged while flying. Remember you will be on board with your stuff and if it can distract or disable a bear imagine what it can do to your pilot.