Bear encounters while caching.

[hunter-killer]

We have for the second time crossed paths with a black bear while caching. Both times we did not see the bear until it moved, the last time while in Marathon, he was far enough away that we were able to get some photos, but still too close for comfort. We just read this article and my cousins encouter with a bear and how it shook him up. Not nice to be food. These encounters we have had were enough for us to purchase bear bangers at Ney's Lunch, and Kathy now takes her pepper spray on hikes, even short ones in the city. Has anyone else had any similar meetings with bears while caching other than us and the monster beagles?

[jleecollins]

No bears but did encounter a squirrel once.  (and bald eagles in NS)  Oh Yea, Brenda yelled when she encountered a brown snake on Munroe Island by Pictou a couples of weeks ago.

And who could not forget getting into a nest of wood ticks while geocaching at Oak Hammock Marsh in Manitoba last year!

Then there was that couple we disturbed while they were doing ??

[Wandering_Man]

I've encountered a number of bears over the years while out backpacking, but never while geocaching.

Probably the closest encounter I've had was actually last summer while biking up in Shuniah Mines. I rounded a corner and spooked a bear that was sitting around eating berries. He initially bolted, but then stopped maybe 20 yards from me and just sat there. So we sat there looking at each other till I got bored and moved on.

It's funny, but bears have never really bothered me.

[CanadianStock]

most iv seen have been bears well driving out to geocache locations, in and on the trail though usually deer and other woodland animals

had a moose in my yard yesterday acutally

[ChrisDom]

I've met all kinds in the bush while caching.  On a drizzly day, I jumped off a rock in the Wolf River area and only to have a bull moose jump up from it's resting position, both of us got a little spooked.  I encountered a bear on the Glenwater road (I was in the truck).  On the way out to some caches on Northern Lights Road, I had to stop as 5 otters bounded across the road to Prelate Lake.  And then there were the two wolves, I came across at a Day on the Mackenzie. 
In almost all cases, I attribute the encounters to early morning caching.

[Statsman595]

Last August while walking the trackbed to "I've been working on the railroad" a bear cub ran across the trackbed just ahead of us. The bear didn't seem to notice us, and our dog didn't see the bear.

[YQT]

I usually carry bear spray with me - just remember to spray it downwind 

As for ticks, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit has a really good pamphlet on wood ticks and deer ticks and probably has the same thing on their web site. Just bought SurpriseMe a "tick remover" from DNR Sports - its very similar to the one's we use in the Emergency Department. Very handy to keep with you and simple to use. Costs about $5.

As for wildlife sightings while geocaching, I came across a once in a lifetime sighting while at Wolf Lake in Dorion. My friend and I, BP76Mr's wife, were paddling along the shore and came across a cow moose and her newborn calf standing on the shore. Very exciting.

[jleecollins]

I just remember when STATSMAN595, pnutbeagle, The Monster Beagles and one other person who I can nor remember went for "The Lost Spike"  There was a bear waiting for us when we got to the parking area. (Newest Walmart Greeter??)  The Monster Beagles scared off the bear,  We also found the cache after a 2.5 km walk.

[CanadianStock]

came across a bear just outside of nipigon this last weekend on the 22nd i guess iit was, was out looking for the cache hidden falls and decided to admire the water falls before looking for the cache, well didnt i turn around and theirs a black bear not 15 feet away from me! what a surprise that was, i slowly got out of their and i never even got the cache! darn lol

[Neys Lunch]

We've been around a number of bears both while hiking and geocaching..... I now wear a bear bell on my pack which just lets the hairy beast know that I'm there so we don't startle each other..... most times they wonder off before we see each other however on the rare occasions that we come face to face I have my trusty bear bangers which are incredibly effective!!!

My most exciting wild animal find while geocaching was a calf left alone on the rocks, turned out to be a great picture taking opportunity.  we went back the next day to see if he was still there but he was gone and there was no blood so I'm comitted to thinking good thoughts that mama and baby were reunited!!