As spring melts the snow and the weather warms up, New Hampshire’s approximately 6,000 bears are coming out of hibernation, hungry and looking for food. This morning, Lebanon’s Dan Moriarty spotted a black bear (or two?) just off the MRG
“After I turned around at Glen Rd and headed back to Lebanon, this guy was sitting on hill just off MRG behind Renihan Meadows at 8:15 this morning. It could have been same bear I had seen earlier but the first bear had run off down the trail behind Renihan towards the river. Same or different bears, these were good photo ops.”
This is not Dan’s first encounter of a bear on the MRG. Here is another story:
“I walk the MRG about four times a week at various times and have since before it opened. I’ve seen otter, fox, beaver, numerous deer and fawns, various ducks, geese and birds at various locations. I usually walk from the APD parking lot to the gate at the intersection of Glen Road and then back to the trail marker opposite Lumber Liquidators and then back to APD parking lot.
Last early October, I walked the trail at first light on a foggy dark morning. I like to walk at that time on the chance of seeing wildlife and because it’s so quiet with no one on trail. I had just crossed over the bridge on the downhill section near Renihan Meadows toward West Leb and was near the high tension electric wires when I had the sense that someone was coming up behind me. I looked back toward the bridge and could see a shape through the fog coming toward me and thought that it was an early runner who was coming pretty fast. I continued walking and didn’t hear anything and was anticipating that I’d say hello to runner in a couple of seconds. I turned to my left to see where runner was to say hello. About fifteen feet behind me was a bear coming fast. I didn’t even have time to react. He took an immediate right turn off the trail and plowed down the hill toward the river right under the electric wires. He was gone in a couple of seconds. I know nothing about size or maturity of bears other than to say he was big.
I’ve seen lots of bears in Upper Valley having lived in Cornish and in my neighborhood in Lebanon. I’ve seen them at a distance in Northern NH and ME. I’ve also seen many Grizzlies in Alaska and British Columbia in my travels. I’ve never though had the “up close and personal” contact that I had with the bear on the MRG. I never heard him coming. I just had the sense from being in the woods over many years that something was behind me.
So bottom line lesson is pay attention to your surroundings when on the MRG. Forget about wearing headphones and occasionally turn around to see what might be behind you on the trail especially in the early morning or at dusk.”
What You Should do if you Encounter a Black Bear? From https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/wildlife-and-habitat/black-bears-new-hampshire
- Normal trail noise should alert bears to your presence and prompt them to move without being noticed. However, if you see a bear, keep your distance. Make it aware of your presence by clapping, talking or making other sounds.
- Black bears will sometimes “bluff charge” when cornered, threatened or attempting to steal food.
- Stand your ground and slowly back away.
- Black bears do not typically exhibit aggressive behavior, even when confronted. Their first response is to flee. Black bears rarely attack or defend themselves against humans.
- Enjoy watching black bears and other wildlife from a distance. Respect them and their right to live in wild New Hampshire.
The Mascoma River Greenway 