Another good indicator of a Grizzly is claw size. Look for those huge
claws!

Katie Sauter wrote:
>
> Tweets:
> Here's my two cents on the bear/cougar/birds discussion (I promise there are
> birds!)
>
> > > Bears are becoming more numerous in Washington
> > > since hound hunting and baiting were abolished.
>
> >snip
>
> >When we went over to our daughters this last weekend.
>
> >Two days before, a cougar came into their yard and killed their dog and four
> >of the eight pups. ...
>
> >Six miles down the road from our daughters home a man had to shoot a grizzly
> >bear that was in the yard ...
>
> Your message seems to have been cut off -- where did you say your daughter
> lives? There are VERY few contemporary records of grizzlies in Washington,
> although they are assumed to inhabit the remotest valleys of the North
> Cascades and *possibly* NE Washington as well. Black bears, on the other
> hand, are abundant and come in many colors, from blonde to cinnamon to brown
> to black. There are many ways of telling the difference, the easiest being
> to look at the snout. Black bears have a longish straight snout, while
> grizzlies have an upturned, pushed-in look. Grizzlies also have a prominant
> hump on their shoulders, although black bears can appear to have one when
> their heads are down. There are also clear differences in tracks. Size and
> color are NOT good indicators. I'd be really interested to know where this
> bear was, and if it was really a grizzly!
>
> >Is there a lack of food in the wild? Why are cougars coming into peoples yard?
>
> Part of the problem is that humans are moving into their habitat, thus
> decreasing their hunting ranges (as well as forcing a familiarity which in
> this case most certainly breeds contempt, and disappearing pets and
> occasional attacks...). As the human population steadily increases, we take
> over living space from other species, which therefore must either learn to
> live with us or decrease in numbers. We do fairly well coexisting with many
> animals (rats, for example, or raccoons, juncos, chickadees, robins,
> flickers...) but we have problems with the predators. This is true in all
> parts of the world (you think having a cougar in your backyard is scary --
> try a Siberian tiger!) Animals at the top of the food chain simply need a
> large hunting territory, and when they don't have it, they get hungry. Of
> course, as with all species, some of the youngsters simply don't make it for
> whatever reason. It could very well be that your daughter's cougar was
> simply sick or the runt of the litter or something.
>
> >> How have those who have successfully bagged a cougar managed
> >> to do it?
>
> Someone put their finger on it -- it takes a lot of effort. You have to
> track the animal instead of luring it hither. If you want to see bears and
> cougars (or more likely be seen by cougars) go to Stehekin at the head of
> Lake Chelan. Gorgeous country, and full of bears. I saw three there two
> weeks ago, including a large brown mother with a small black cub, and when
> the historic orchard is at its peak there are usually several hanging around
> munching the apples. The local residents have no problems hunting bears and
> cougars, by the way.
>
> And Stehekin is also a wonderful place for birds! This summer I saw my
> first goshawks there, sitting in a tree calling to one another. I also saw
> my first grey-crowned rosy finches at the top of McGregor Mountain. What a
> treat! My friend was terrified that I'd fall off the rather exposed ledge
> on which we were standing, I was so intent on watching the birds. Lots of
> other good birds there too, like grey catbirds and veerys and clark's
> nutcrackers and woodpeckers of every description.
>
> Enough for now -- I'll go back to lurking for awhile :)
>
> Katie Sauter
> Seattle

--
Darrell Dally
Network Analyst
The Boeing Company
Data Network Management
MS 7M-KP
dally at cmipa2.ns.cs.boeing.com