Above are photos of our first sightings of black bear tracks. On our 15 acre property, in Grizzly Flats, Ca. The elevation is 4000 ft. in the Sierra. We had seen other signs before in previous years. Such as torn up dead trees, and large scatt piles with what appered to be full of blackberry seeds. This is when we had decided to get a large caliber hangun. We purchased a Ruger 44 magnum for our own protection while we took walks on our property.
"The sighting of tracks" We woke up, and made tea,then decided to take our usual morning walk around the old dirt road that travels the length of our 15 acres, and, circles back on both sides of our creek. We had almost reached the end of our property, and Donna spotted a beautiful coyote run accross the road in the 3-4" of snow which was now melting fast. I missed it! So then we looked at the coyotes tracks it had left in the snow. I took a picture on my digital camera, and we proceeded to turn the corner on our dirt road to head back to the house. When suddenly I looked down, and saw these huge Black Bear tracks! We were very excited to see them, and proceeded to keep walking back twards the house. While doing so we could see the bear had clearly followed are tracks we had left in the snow on our walk the day before! Stepping right on them, as well as large neighborhood dog tracks left there the previous day. Since the tracks are so large I figure it's a large male bear. Males are much bigger than the females, and can reach legths of 7', and even 600 lbs. plus! We followed the tracks, which came from the vacant 2.5 acre lot next to our house. Then traveled up around the other side of our pond, down through our 15 acres, and then left our land. I took lots of pictures, and a plaster casting of one good print. Even though Black Bear attacks are rare, we plan on being more alert, and packing the 44 mag. on our walks...
This sighting occured on Easter weekend 2005
