Is it a "bare" tree?

Dixie

...or is it a tree full of bears?

I couldn't resist. I think it was the same mother and three cubs from two days earlier. I wish I could have gotten better pics, but the second I tried to move closer the cubs headed down the tree (mom was at the very top), and then she followed.

gus

Note : Do not climb tree to escape a bear.

I had no idea they would go that high. I assume they are after new shoots ?

pathfinder

Great shot Dixie.

Gus, I never realized that black bears ate the twigs of Maple trees either, until I saw them doing it in Michigan last summer

Dixie

gus wrote:

Note : Do not climb tree to escape a bear.

I had no idea they would go that high. I assume they are after new shoots ?

That's exactly what they are doing. They would balance themselves and reachout and grab the branch with shoots and eat them right off the end.

What surprised me is how flimsy the tree was where Mama Bear was at. The whole top of the tree would sway when she would reach out to grab a branch. At times I thought that it would break under her weight, but it didn't. I reckon they know their and the limbs limits.

raptorcaptor

Nice capture!

Dee

Bears climb trees?
Unbelievable! I guess they can... they do have those long sharp claws...

That would have made a great video capture.

ginger_55

I like that shot better than I would have a closer one. Cool shot, Dixie!

ginger

Gale

Very nice shot.
I like this alot:>)))

dbaker1221

thanks. good pic. very interesting

Dick on Aruba

Very cool capture, well done.

Thanks for sharing.

Dick.

Awais Yaqub

at 1st i thought they are mokies

nice shot

Dixie

Thanks everyone.

To give you an idea of just how high the bears are in the tree - the mother bear stood about 5 feet in height and only the top half of the entire tree is shown in the first photo above.

The photo below from a different angle and further away doesn't show the four bears as well, but it does give you a great idea of just how high in the tree the bears climbed.

Click on image for EXIF data.

ehughes

Very cool Dixie... great capture

Ann McRae

Wow - that is a great capture, Dixie. I knew bears climbed, but had no idea they would climb for new shoots.

Now, where is Dean (cwphotos where are you????):D:D

ann

Dixie

Thank you, Ed & Ann.

kdog

Really wonderful shots. It's great to see this bear behavior. I really like the color and composition in the second one.

Regards,
-joel

BrettG

gus wrote:

Note : Do not climb tree to escape a bear.

As the old saying goes, if you climb a tree
- a black bear will climb up after you and eat you
- a grizzly bear will knock the tree down and eat you

Dixie

kdog wrote:

Really wonderful shots. It's great to see this bear behavior. I really like the color and composition in the second one.

Regards,
-joel

Thanks, Joel.

Dixie

BrettG wrote:

As the old saying goes, if you climb a tree
- a black bear will climb up after you and eat you
- a grizzly bear will knock the tree down and eat you

...or as I have heard it - some days you get the bear and other days, the bear gets you.

dallas

An outstanding photo.......thanks sharing and the very interesting info.

riddim_maker

Kudos on the composition

Zygote

Amazing capture! I'm lucky if i capture a bird in a tree.

Elaine

Wow! Like some others here, I had no idea they would go that high. Great captures, both of them. Well done!

Elaine

Dixie

Thanks, everyone.

Elaine - I didn't know they would go that high either until I saw it with my own eyes.