April 5th, 2021 — Bear Season

Me: sees possible evidence of a bear

Continues to search for bear/confirm area clear in my work sandals and jumpsuit

Finds bear directly in front of me

Proceeds to attempt to take a picture of bear but fail (he walked away too quickly—clearly not interested in me)

Then I proceed to calmly go inside, change into better clothes for the occasion, grab the easiest gun to carry hands-free and search for all 4 of my fur babies with a flashlight

Find all 4 fur babies and relieved bear didn’t eat them Though I know cat is never a bears first choice of food Bears love produce/trash/etc

Continue to periodically check the area if bear returns Hibernating season is over!!! Consider this your PSA if hiking or spending time outside.

Bears are awake now and they are hungry. #offgridlife

COMMENTS:

• Karen McCashYikes!
  • Rachel McCash CroninKaren McCash yes!! I’m getting pretty used to bears now after 3 years but this was still surprising.  
• Diana EROh goodness girl! Always thinking of you. Did they ever catch the one that got in your rv?
  • Rachel McCash CroninDiana ER aww I appreciate that!! And nope lol. He still walks among us haha But we should have the issue solved—we never crack open our windows anymore lol. Always shut and locked now 
• Andrew FraserBears here in whistler open unlocked car doors
  • Rachel McCash CroninAndrew Fraser wow!!! I haven’t seen that at all out here
  • Andrew FraserRachel McCash Cronin there are locks on the garage cans. They like easy food
• Diana Grover LarsenBe careful out there sweetie. 
  • Rachel McCash CroninDiana Grover Larsen yes!! Each year is getting easier! Always surprising though. They are like giant dogs lol
• Cameron Davis ReesAll that’s gonna do is piss the bear off more.
  • Rayann ReigenbornCameron Davis Rees this!!  that bullet won’t do much after penetrating through all the layers of it’s thick fur. Unless you did a head shot, which might not be easy aiming for with a charging bear, idk I’ve never tried shooting a charging bear before … See More
  • Rachel McCash CroninCameron Davis Rees yes true—but better than not carrying. We also have some shot guns and an AR. I’m most familiar with this one though. When you’re nervous and anxious (bears still spike the anxiety for me), I felt choosing the weapon I’m most familiar with is best. Huge reminder I need to practice more and get familiar with our other weapons 
  • Rachel McCash CroninRayann Reigenborn yes I prefer the rubber bullet method to be honest. My husband has shot bears with them and they take off so fast. If I can, I’d rather cohabitate than kill. This bear was right in front of me and kept on walking searching for food. Totally not interested in me. When I work on appearing as calm and nonchalant—the bears do the same. This was probably my 7th-8th bear encounter out here—working on getting used to it and prepared 
  • Kellie O’BrienRachel McCash Cronin I’m a firm believer in carrying when going out into the wilderness. You won’t find me in the mountains here without mine. I like having a loud noise maker- we were taught that the goal isn’t to shoot the bear (obviously those odds are not in your favor). But they make things called Bear Bells for a reason… they don’t like loud noises. Carry away!!
  • Cameron Davis ReesRachel McCash Cronin if you haven’t already I would invest I some good slugs for the shotgun. Maybe set it up with the first being a rubber bullet and the rest slugs. I’m just worried about the day you accidentally get between a momma and her cubs. Yes, I’d rather have something than nothing for sure. That gives 17 chances (my pistol) at not dying rather than just playing dead and being a chew toy.
  • Tay LorCameron Davis Rees yup. All you have to do is be wrong place wrong time and it’s over.
• Michael T HooverWhat was the possible evidence before you saw him?
  • Rachel McCash CroninMichael T Hoover first sign: it was dead silent. I could hear a pin drop. Anytime it’s completely silent—there is most likely a predator.Second sign: my cats didn’t run to greet me. They always greet me as I drive up the road and can’t wait for me to get out of the car (they are all like dogs in so many ways haha).Third sign: our small dish of outdoor cat food was missing.
  • Rachel McCash CroninMichael T Hoover also—great question!!! 
  • Michael T HooverRachel McCashDon’t go taking on the bear now!  Just make some noise to scare em off… Firecracker, banging pans, a shot into the air…. It would be cool to have a loud speaker system that would blast loud noises, one that could be activated remotely and maybe one will wireless detection…And of course have bear spray… Yeah it’s kinda either scare em’ off or just make friends with them just like you would your friendly neighborhood squirrel (IE: like Grissley Adams lol…)If you leave food for cats outside you’re definitely guaranteed to have bears and other big things come around , same with bird seed or anything like that…
  • Bryan HuddlestonMichael, for sure, and once they have gotten pet food there, they usually come back for it.
  • Rachel McCash CroninBryan Huddleston yes unfortunately for kitties, their food will stay inside now. But that will probably help kitties come in for the night much faster anyways lol. Some of them take their time coming in and it’s annoying . But if their only food is inside, they should come in much faster hah
  • Michael T HooverRachel McCash Cronin oh yeah that be coming in even faster than when they come to greet you, lol…
  • Michael T HooverThey’ll*
• Mark HeinerNice
• Jessica Kishyou should always be carrying for those big kitty cats
  • Rachel McCash CroninJessica Kish yes!!! I need to get into this habit and practice more!!! I’ll be picking up more ammo and rubber bullets. To be honest, I’d rather shoot with the rubber ones—the parks and wildlife officer gave us some last bear season and they are great at getting bears to flee quickly without killing them. I want to be respectful of them but also keep my family and animals safe too 
• Heidi LynnI love you and your bear searching self 
• Zila LafaveThey’re definitely awake. A couple people already got attacked here a month or 2 ago!
• Tay LorLiterally my worst fear ever is bears. And the fact that you can be prosecuted for shooting one in self defense. 
  • Rachel McCash CroninTay Lor parks and wildlife told us if they are attacking us, our livestock or attempting to enter our home, we first shoot rubber and if that doesn’t work, we have the right to shoot to kill. We need to call them immediately after as well and document the case.
  • Tay LorRachel McCash Cronin do you know if that is federal or depending on the state? Since moving back to TN I’ve been researching because we live right next to the mountains and I’ve seen several bears here. It never occurred to me how quick it could go south and now that I have kids I think about like what I would do if we were in the mountains with them and something were to happen.  Mama bears don’t play. I can’t relate. 
  • Rachel McCash CroninTay Lor aww yeah, I totally get it! I’m not sure. I would call your local Parks and Wildlife department and ask. We had parks and wildlife out on our property last year and they were the ones who told us directly about how to handle bears and gave us a box of rubber bullets. They also prefer you tell them if you even have to shoot a rubber bullet at one too—which is what we’ve been doing. We report those shots and luckily have never had to shoot to kill yet because the rubber bullets are so highly effective. They literally bolt away at full speed.
  • Mike RayTay Lor black bears are literally the most doscile of all bears
  • Rachel McCash CroninMike Ray they literally remind me of giant dogs lol
  • Rachel McCash CroninMike Ray last season there was one on our build site and I was just like , “Noooooo!!!!!! Baaaaaad!!!!” Lol and he slowly walked away from our site and back into the forest lol
  • Tay LorMike Ray even with cubs?
  • Mike RayTay Lor yes. Of course you wouldn’t want to mess with any mommas babies right? But they are literally more scared of you. I have met 3 black bears face to face and all 3 ran from me like the plague. Only 1 I ever had to scare off he just kept walking towards me. He was hungry and looking for food. Once he was about 10 ft from me I started yelling at him. He went the other way very slowly. Black bears can be scared away. Brown and grizzlys you better avoid at all costs
  • Tay LorMike Ray good to know. I’ve seen several black ones here as a teen it just never occurred to me that they could be dangerous until like last year lol
• Jessika WallaceBear spray!!! Works for all predators, including humans. Lol
  • Rachel McCash CroninJessika Wallace yes we have several cans! Costco has a great deal on them too—if anyone is looking 
• Evan EberhardtWhat caliber is your pistol? Target rounds will penetrate better than hollow point. If you can even find ammo, that is! Effs…