Bear in the Neighborhood?

 Greetings friends, neighbors and blog followers. Not long ago my wife and daughter were walking the edge of our property and found what appears to be bear scat...

There have been several recent reports of bear sightings in our area. Every summer bears are spotted, usually youngsters like the ones in the next photos, looking to find their own territory...

We live in a natural travel corridor for bears that are born in the Catoctin Mountain range. When the female (sow) that gave birth is coming in heat again she drives away her cubs so that male bears (boars) will not kill them...

This happens everywhere that bears live and is the normal process of bear propagation.

For the birds...In my local travels I have noticed that many visiting birds have either departed on their annual migration or are just not as numerous as they were in past years. One example is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo...

Bag worms and tent caterpillars, two of the cuckoo's preferred foods, are in short supply this year which could account for the lower numbers...

Eastern Towhees and several other species have declined as well...

Field Sparrows...

Hummingbirds are stopping by again...

Wood Thrush are lingering...

Some Mourning Doves migrate while others are here year round...

White-breasted Nuthatches are year-round residents...

If you have squirrels in your area...

You may  have noticed how they can be visible one minute...

And seem to disappear the next...

Flattening themselves against a tree to avoid predators.

The Whitetail Deer will soon be trading their red summer coat...

For the thicker gray one they will wear all winter...

I will be watching for the bear to make an appearance. When the corn and soy beans are harvested it will be harder for them to avoid being seen. In the meantime...

Thanks for visiting, be well and come back soon.