Went out today to enjoy the nice weather. Went through lebanon then through chatsworth went past wading pines campground over the first bridge then on my way to the second bridge I started seeing tracks after following them a way I got out and they were as big as my hand I got some pics of them. Followed them over the second bridge and they kept going all the way to sandy ridge just before the bridge where they turned off into the field. At first I thought they were horse tracks but I second thought that got out then realized that they were bear tracks. Very cool bears now I want to see one and get a pic.
bear tracks
- Thread starter daved
- Start date
and maybe www.topozone.com links with the starting and ending points. I would be very interested to see the route on a map.BEHR655 said:
Thanks,
Roy
That is pretty cool! Are you cetain they were bear tracks though? They could have been, absolutely, but large domestic dogs have very large prints. The best way to tell is that the bear's hind feet leave five toe prints with claw marks and are shaped a little like a human foot.
Jeff
Jeff
these tracks were as big as my hand. you can clearly see the claws 5 of them. at first i didnt know that they were bear tracks for sure but when i got home i looked up bear tracks on the internet and sure enough they were. driving south on 563 make a right at jenkins church go past wading pines campground go over geodfreys bridge at intersection make a right heading towards hawkins bridge a shortly down this road the tracks start they go over hawkins bridge and follow the road up to the next bridge on carranza road where they turn into the field just before the bridge
It was a bear then!! That spot you were in: between hawkins bridge campsite and godfreys bridge campsite has me concerned about bears gravitating toward the campsites (not that there are many campers this time of year). I like the idea of bear in the barrens but I hope they don't become campsite scavengers like in North Jersey, it belittles them.
My neighbor saw a bear near my house! He is a friend of mine. I spend all this time in the woods always on the look out for a bear and he sees one on his way to work! oh' well, sometimes things work out that way.LOL
Jeff
My neighbor saw a bear near my house! He is a friend of mine. I spend all this time in the woods always on the look out for a bear and he sees one on his way to work! oh' well, sometimes things work out that way.LOL
Jeff
It always seem like the people who look for things never find them. I've seen two bears in my lifetime, one while throwing trash in a dumpster and one while driving on 80 in pa. However I have spent hundreds of hours in bear country fishing and never saw one.
Its going to be hard to discourage bear from gravitating towards campgrounds. If they become a regular part of the Pines ecosystem than bear bags will have to be instituted, and probably should be now. I have had an encounter, and while it can certainly be a special experience, I really worry how long its going to take before some negative experience happens. Education for all involved should start immeadiately. While ranger stations are carrying bear flyers, I hope to see a more inclusive and thorough attempt at educating Pines visitors.
Bears in Wharton?
I happened upon a large Black Bear at daybreak while riding along old Mine Rd. couple miles south of Dingman's Ferry Bridge last year.
That experience got me thinking about bears in NJ and if they might be in Wharton, which is just a couple miles from me here in Medford. Don't bears need caves or at least big holes to hibernate ? Can't image where they would go in Wharton, which has neither (as far as i know)?
If they are there, seeing them around campsites in the spring/summer makes sense. I know there have been rumors about bears in the Pines, but what do we really know for a fact? Will we start seeing bears in Wharton this summer?
I happened upon a large Black Bear at daybreak while riding along old Mine Rd. couple miles south of Dingman's Ferry Bridge last year.
That experience got me thinking about bears in NJ and if they might be in Wharton, which is just a couple miles from me here in Medford. Don't bears need caves or at least big holes to hibernate ? Can't image where they would go in Wharton, which has neither (as far as i know)?
If they are there, seeing them around campsites in the spring/summer makes sense. I know there have been rumors about bears in the Pines, but what do we really know for a fact? Will we start seeing bears in Wharton this summer?
I have a friend who lives right off sooy place in chatsworth?? who has videotape of a black bear raiding his trash cans. There def here not sure how many or if there just lost bears from up north but they have been seen in most southern counties.
Bears in da woods
I noticed they had the state info card about how to deal with bears at Batsto, but figured it was not locale specific.
I would bet a Forest Ranger would know for sure, or a good hunter familiar with the area. Anybody know a Wharton Ranger with the scoop (official/ unofficial)? Based on the Pines "life zones", where might they be (other than campsites)?
I noticed they had the state info card about how to deal with bears at Batsto, but figured it was not locale specific.
I would bet a Forest Ranger would know for sure, or a good hunter familiar with the area. Anybody know a Wharton Ranger with the scoop (official/ unofficial)? Based on the Pines "life zones", where might they be (other than campsites)?
Guy, I don't know if it was on tv. Its actually my brother in law's friend who grew up in haddon heights and now lives in the pines. I was relaying what he told my bro in law. Was about a year and half ago, maybe same one.
I have never seen a bear in the pines, but I've seen their poo before. At least, this one guy I work with is a poo analyst, and he said it was bear poo.
Luckily, according to the professional analysis, it appears that the bear was well-fed, and therefore not hungry for archaeologists.
Luckily, according to the professional analysis, it appears that the bear was well-fed, and therefore not hungry for archaeologists.
Within the realm of safety,Just like you would hope with cautious approach to any Snake,Fox,coyote,or other wild animal sighting, I would welcome the opportunity for a bear sighting for myself or my children.
And yes, I agree as bear become more present in a given region a little public education especially in the camping community wouldn't hurt.
Heck, I'm still waiting for the State course on what to do when one runs into the latest breed of Pine Barrens Angus Steer we have allegedly have lurking about my way.
( How to pick the right wine, A good B'earnaise recipe, etc. )
G.
And yes, I agree as bear become more present in a given region a little public education especially in the camping community wouldn't hurt.
Heck, I'm still waiting for the State course on what to do when one runs into the latest breed of Pine Barrens Angus Steer we have allegedly have lurking about my way.
( How to pick the right wine, A good B'earnaise recipe, etc. )
G.
Bears In Batsto
I Do Alot Of My Hiking On The Batona Trail At Batsto And I've Never Seen Bear But Have Seen Alot Of Signs That They Are There And Closer Than You Think .there Is Plenty Of Places For Them To Den Up In ,along The Swamps There Are Huge Trees That Have Uprooted And Left Holes Under Them I'm Sure They Utilize Those Areas
I Do Alot Of My Hiking On The Batona Trail At Batsto And I've Never Seen Bear But Have Seen Alot Of Signs That They Are There And Closer Than You Think .there Is Plenty Of Places For Them To Den Up In ,along The Swamps There Are Huge Trees That Have Uprooted And Left Holes Under Them I'm Sure They Utilize Those Areas
LARGO said:
A little off the subject of bears, but very wierd, a few years ago I was hiking with a friend in Winslow WMA and we found a very large animal killed and mutilated. There were no drag marks, it was much to big to drag anyway. Judging by the size we thought it was a steer, but it was hard to tell. Really strange.
piker56 said:
Not wanting to stray too far myself, perhaps I should clarify for nonfamiliar
persons to the Steer in question. There is a Phenom perhaps, future folklure animal roaming our woods here. A real Steer. I doubt it was killed mutillated & dragged.Chances are it met a fate of firearm,wax paper, & freezer.