What a maroon!

[Captain Intrepid]

What kind of fool would try to get between a bear an it's food? A politician of course!

When the 56-year-old Democratic leader looked, he spotted two adult bears and two cubs trying to eat out of his bird feeders. He attempted to chase the bears away, but the animals kept coming back, Allen said.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...-barefoot?lite

[Peter Kalshoven]

"Allen said Shumlin learned a valuable lesson: "Do not put out feeders in the spring." "

Ya know, I would have learned a different lesson. "Don't f**k with bears."

[Ian McColgin]

Well, one lesson is about prevention. The other lesson is about self-preservation by doing nothing. Each has its value.

[S.V. Airlie]

Deserves at least an honorable mention at the Darwin awards.

[Rich Jones]

My governor did that? Hmmm... not his brightest moment.
Last year, the 80 year old lady living just down the road went out one morning and whacked a bear messing with her birdfeeder with a broom. The bear just looked at her as if to say, "What? Are you nuts?!" Apparently, she was too scrawny to eat so he just ambled into the woods.

[Phillip Allen]

My governor did that? Hmmm... not his brightest moment.
Last year, the 80 year old lady living just down the road went out one morning and whacked a bear messing with her birdfeeder with a broom. The bear just looked at her as if to say, "What? Are you nuts?!" Apparently, she was too scrawny to eat so he just ambled into the woods.

I can't wait for the movie to come out

[Nanoose]

Did you mean the noun form of maroon, as in a brownish-crimson color, or the verb form of marooned as in trapped and isolated?

[Captain Intrepid]

Noun.

[Meli]

that's pretty funny (and I assume stupid) Davy Crockett syndrome?

The only "knowledge" I have about Bears is either from the simpsons or "Gentle Ben" O and a Canadian who trumpt our Grizzly tales of Drop Bear attacks with tales of grizzly attacks

[Rich Jones]

Since moving to Vermont last year, we constantly hear the warning about not putting bird-feeders out in the spring. Just-out-of-hibernation bears will eat anything. So, despite all these warnings, what do we have on the front lawn? A full bird feeder, of course. "We can't let the poor little birds starve" says the wife!
Living in the woods, we also tend to get mice in the house during the winter. I consider them God's little creatures but, once in the house, THEY'RE ALL MINE!! Having three cats, though, the mice don't last for long.

[Garret]

Not one of Shumlin's best moments. Of course he grew up only a few miles from Massachusetts..... Just kidding! He was simply not smart about the whole thing.

Oh - remember that these are black bears - less aggressive than western bears & smaller - max 250-300 lbs. I still wouldn't mess with one!

[S.V. Airlie]

Garret a western northern, or eastern bear does exhibit smaller or larger sizes depending, based on locale, but I sense, no matter where they are from, they would stay away from a smaller sized wolverine not matter what.PS, it's basically spring birds are breeding. Many need protein in their diets (young). Also food supply is on the up and up and a bird feeder is seconary. Starving without having one, NAH!

[Flying Orca]

A wolverine can drive a grizzly off its kill.

[S.V. Airlie]

exactly! One does not mess with one of those. I don't think a wolverine gives a hoot how big the bear is.

[Flying Orca]

I think you're right. Pound for pound you can't out-crazy or out-mean a weasel, and an eighty-pound weasel is the stuff of even bears' nightmares.

[Soundbounder]

Western MA last year:

[Rich Jones]

We also have some critters here called fischers or fischer-cats. Basically a weasel from Hell.

[Garret]

We also have some critters here called fischers or fischer-cats. Basically a weasel from Hell.

That's giving hell a bad name. Fisher cats are nasty critters. Years ago when raising ducks (don't ask) they hit one night & ate all the meat off the necks of 10 ducks. I mean just the neck - a strip about 2" along the spine all the way 'round & down to the bone. It killed them (needless to say), but what a waste. The darn things would've gotten more meat from eating a single whole duck. I think they simply enjoy killing & watching the suffering.

[Rich Jones]

I surprised two fisher-cats a couple of years ago while taking a walk. They don't like seeing people and beat a hasty retreat. The other night, though, the coyotes were howling about 100' away from the house.
Maybe I'll go on one of the gun threads and see what armament I need for those critters.

[S.V. Airlie]

That's giving hell a bad name. Fisher cats are nasty critters. Years ago when raising ducks (don't ask) they hit one night & ate all the meat off the necks of 10 ducks. I mean just the neck - a strip about 2" along the spine all the way 'round & down to the bone. It killed them (needless to say), but what a waste. The darn things would've gotten more meat from eating a single whole duck. I think they simply enjoy killing & watching the suffering.

The State wants everyone here to think THEY ain't here.. I know people like to call them fisher cats, but they ain't cats.

[Garret]

I surprised two fisher-cats a couple of years ago while taking a walk. They don't like seeing people and beat a hasty retreat. The other night, though, the coyotes were howling about 100' away from the house.
Maybe I'll go on one of the gun threads and see what armament I need for those critters.

We have coyotes all around us. They've never bothered us a bit & clean up roadkill, etc. very nicely. If you raise sheep or goats you may feel differently.....

[Garret]

The State wants everyone here to think THEY ain't here.. I know people like to call them fisher cats, but they ain't cats.

I know they ain't cats - but that's what the oldtimers call 'em

VT freely admits their existence & F&G has no issue with people killing them in most any manner.

[Jim Mahan]

'Maroon' is just different spelling for 'moran.' Only an idot wouldn't know that...

[S.V. Airlie]

Garret, I understand about why they are called cats. CT may now "freely" admit these do exist. Connecticut wasn't so free in admitting they were here for quite a while. I think the state has been a little freaked out by their success and the problems with the reintroduction in urban areas and elsewhere in1988..

[Nanoose]

'Maroon' is just different spelling for 'moran.' Only an idot wouldn't know that...

Ah, yes, moran - that which isn't even a word....right....except maroon is actually a word...

[John Smith]

Since moving to Vermont last year, we constantly hear the warning about not putting bird-feeders out in the spring. Just-out-of-hibernation bears will eat anything. So, despite all these warnings, what do we have on the front lawn? A full bird feeder, of course. "We can't let the poor little birds starve" says the wife!
Living in the woods, we also tend to get mice in the house during the winter. I consider them God's little creatures but, once in the house, THEY'RE ALL MINE!! Having three cats, though, the mice don't last for long.

Am I missing something. Birds can fly; bears can't. Why not put the bird feeder up high. Maybe so you can fill it from a second floor window.