There has been a crazy amount of bear activity all along the Front Range this fall.  One in particular has been making its presence known in our neighborhood on a frequent basis.  I woke up at 3am to a huge racket outside our house the other night.  The bear was trying to get into our garbage can.  We have it strapped down, so it wasn’t having any luck.  That didn’t stop it from trying, though.

I climbed out a window onto our garage roof and crept to the edge.  I didn’t need a light because the moon was out.  I’ve seen several bears over the years, but when I looked over the edge I saw one of the biggest of the bunch.  About 6 feet directly below me, oblivious to my presence.

I observed it for a minute, then thumped the roof with my hand and gave a shout to scare it off.  It immediately bolted to the bottom of the driveway before stopping and looking back.  I did it again, and it casually sauntered away.  Not worried in the slightest.

I wish I would have had my camera to get a shot from that perspective, but it was out in the car.  Three feet from the bear.

A few days ago, I got the next best thing.  A couple other people in our area have managed to get pictures of it and they have been circulating around.

That is one big bear!  Just look at the size of its front leg.  Wow.

credit: Frank and Barb Blatter

This is the angle that my shot would have been taken from.  Only at night, and about 2x closer.  You could put a saddle on that guy!

credit: Bob Melcher

Walking the path in broad daylight.

credit: Bob Melcher