bears and coyotes

[terre <tobytrot@bigfoot.com>]

Kim said:

>Over the years, my husband and I have run across five bears.  One time it
>was mamma and baby.  We have always found the bears to be shy and
>unobtrusive.  (Florida Black Bears).  We always stopped our horses and
>waited until the bears went on their merry way.  No problems.  Quite a
>site!  We always felt so lucky to be able to see them in the wild.

I've met many, many bears (mostly blacks, few browns) on three different
horses, and none of them were the least bit alarmed.  I think they saw the
bears before I did, and would have ignored them totally--sometimes I pull
up if the bear is close or maybe looking around like there may be clubs,
often I totally ignore them.  Never had a problem.  My horses are more
likely to react to deer, because of the abrupt fast motion, than they are
to bears which move relatively slowly.  

>Coyotes are another story.  My husband and I were in the Ocala National
>Forest when we happened upon a mangy, scrawny looking Coyote in the middle
>of the day.  He was maybe 20 or 30 feet away.  He stood his ground and
>watched us until we were out of site.  Felt eery knowing those eyes were
>focused upon us.  I kept turning around to check and see if he was
>following us. I expected to see him trotting behind us.  That was wierd
>feeling.

I've had them follow me! and it is weird!  They are waiting for you and
horse horse to flush some game for them--nobody every said coyotes were dumb!
Terre

PS--if you want to see bears, come to Over The Rainbow Ride in Merritt, BC,
Canada on June 26th!  We can practically guarantee them!   Terre


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