I got a couple of new teachers into trapping last year. A couple of weeks ago they were following a set of lynx traps and saw where it went by a hole. They investigated and thought they saw what looked like a bear inside. They came all excited and discussed all the options for find out further. They thought it was a black bear. I had a small tripod that fits on a branch or pipe with velcro and they put that on a long pipe and put he camera on a timer. It took a few trips until they got things figured out. Seems right at about noon you can look in the den and observe him quite well. However the photos were dark. A forced flash really captured it well. After about 4 photos/video shoots each of which progressed with a further invasion into the den they have what I think is an absolutely amazing photo. Considering they are only about 7 feet from the bear.





This didn't happen on the first attempt. It was after repeated visits and monitoring the bear and its behavior that they saw that they could get away with it. It show no aggressive tendencies.
They do have griz tags, it is open season and they are packin big guns at all times. They had three back up guns on the hole for the first few trips.
And quite frankly would probably love to have the excuse to use them. But for now are enjoying the show. They have some great videos as well.
The bear sits with it eyes open looking very sleepy and content to just stay put.

If you look at the photo you can see the claw marks on the back of the den where he clawed the den out.

Question is how will the bear progress when it starts to come out. Will it stay at the den or near by for a few days, a week? Any guess.
I can probably upload some of the video if people are interested enough.
Pretty darn cool!

Very cool pictures Len!

-TJ

Amazing pics.Thanks.

More pics, more pics......

That really is cool Len thanks for posting it.

My guess is the bear will hang around a few days after he gets the urge to come out. Usually they go in and out for a few days anyway. I would GPS this hole and check it every year.

Wow!! You going to take over and store supplies for the summer in there? You could even camp in there.

That is pretty darn cool. Like White said, GPS the hole and check it in the spring.

That is awesome.

awsome

Very Cool Pics Len!..remember Timothy Treadwell..LOL!

I remember Rick Swenson of Two Rivers, showing me a bear arm that he found of a grizzley. Seems a wolf pack found the hibernating bear, dug it out, killed and ate it. All was left was the arm and paw with a big set of claws!

That's cool!

Too bad you can't hang a 1/4" snare in front of that hole, it would make a nice addition to that species list you posted at the beginning of the season!

Why wait till spring? Make a commotion outside the hole and see if it comes out. Could there be little cubs in there not showing on the cam?
mt

Looks like a young bear to me. They could drill a hole down from the top and stick a pole down and prod him out. Have the paper bag ready at the mouth of the hole.

Great photos.

One of these days, that bear is going to get a little testy about being poked at and that flash going off.....!

I have poked black bears until they came out, but purposefully poking a brown bear until he comes out is on someone ELSE'S "to do" list...!

Pete

I know a few guys who have done it and speared the bear when he came out. Obviously they are all old guys. The young ones didn't do it right. Some pretty amazing artifacts still around that were involved with this endeavor. Some of the spear heads are works of art.

Very interesting photos. The investigation of grizzlies in their dens is very limited. I once saw a photo sequence of a biologist going in on a grizzly den. It was a major pucker factor. That bear came boiling out before they got to the hole. No one was hurt, but it put the fear in those biologists to the point they never tried it again.

Most of you remember that unfortunate incident of the Kenai a decade ago with the siesmic crew. That guy never knew what hit him. No matter how big the bore is on your rifle, messing around with a grizzly in the den is flirting with a potentially bad situation.

Remember bears don't classicaly hibernate. They go into what is called a state of torpor. The difference is their body temperature doesn't plummet to near freezing and they cycle in and out of conciousness. Hibernators, like ground squirrel take there body temp to 33 degrees and don't wake up on a regular basis. The frequency of bouts of conciousness with bears increases as spring gets closer. There was some research done in the 70's that found that the sound of an airplane motor flying over the den actually aroused a grizzly bear from a heartrate of 2 beats per minute to 85 beats per minute. Taht bear could be a whole lot more lively next time around.

As far as bear movement from the den. In my experience the only bears that stick near a densite for a while are females with cubs. The majority of the other bears seem to exit and leave the area depending on the progression of spring, whether their den has gotten wet inside or even caved in and the amount of food nearby. I would say that single bears might hang around for a week or so after they have exited.

I personally would keep a distance from that operation.

Oh come on.........they're so cute and cuddly.

len, a few years back we found a black bear in its den, It wasnt much of a den really just a the hole left from an upturned tree. you could look in and see him plain as day. we checked up on him all winter from time to time and had numerous visitors come to see "our" bear. he never even stirred. then it started to warm up a bit and when i got down for a peak and was nearly run over. he stayed close by and was in and out several times all spring and then dissapeared!
White, didn't you once winter with a sow grizzly? survived on grizz milk so the story goes.

That's a fact ! But I didn't know it was common knowledge.

I thought that was tigers in India?

Cedar, has a black bear around here that is as old as the hills that loves her. It takes him about 45 minutes to cross the back yard. She gets about 3 feet from him and he doesn't even flinch. She checks on him every spring and gets worried if he doesn't show up when she thinks he should. His den is about 100 yards behind the house. She saves all the slop she can find for him and will protect it with her life until Charlie gets it ate. (by the way that is what she has named him) He has half a paw missing. You can tell that he was a big bear in his younger days but age has taken its toll on him. It will be a sad day around here when Charlie don't show up one Spring.

When he doesn't show up I'd go check his den if I were you.

I am sure she will it is her best friend

I guess the bear was pretty active today. Had the boys a bit skittish.
They caught a huge Male lynx right near by as well.

Just pour some water down the hole and flush it out. We used to do that with gophers.

At first they were all anxious to shoot it. Then they started taking picts and video to assure it did not have cubs. First it was going to be a rifle, then a pistol. Even thought about a bow and arrow. They called and it was legal to take it in the den.
Now the excitement has worn off and they are going to wait until the bear comes out or they can get it to come out. And then BAM BAM BAM. Looks to be a dead Griz unless it gets out of Dodge as soon as it exits the den! It is only about 20 min away so they are keeping pretty good track of it.

My money is on the bear.

I second White! If they want it, best to take it when groggy and unsuspection. And I'd also recommend NOT letting anyone from the ADN know about it. Think the Katamai hunts looked like UN-fair chase!?!?!

Nice!

+2 for White. If they wait for it to exit on it's own they won't get it. I like Kusko's idea of water.
mt

If you use Kusko's idea....PLEASE VIDEO TAPE (from a safe distance). That'd be hilarious to see a person get eaten...errr, I mean try that method.

Might try clorox, I "heard" that works...
i would stay out of the way though, they (may) come out, of there fast..
guess thier fine olfactory system becomes overloaded...

Very cool pics.

Obvious female bear. Look at the pop bottle shaped nose.

"White, didn't you once winter with a sow grizzly? survived on grizz milk so the story goes."
Isn't that where the Sasquatch originated from?:D

Apparently there is a hole on top and you can see down into the den as well. Prodding hole? Apparently the den hole is small enough that he will have to squeeze a little to come out. Should give a guy enough time to get a good shot before you start running. ;0)

FamilyTrapper Great shots!
Don't know if it was suggested or not?? Ask Timmy Treadwell if he'd be willing to snuggle with your sow! Oh wait, scratch that idea...

Very neat pics