I was biking up our driveway and right before I got to the house I looked up and saw a black bear right in my way. I knew there are bears around the Beaverdam area but my only previous encounter had been a passing glimpse at night once. I stopped and watched it walk across, then I hurried into the house to get my camera with my best lens.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to see it again but as I was walking down the driveway, there it was in the neighbor’s yard just sitting and munching on this tree like it didn’t have a care in the world.

It looked right at me and went back to eating. I was able to watch it for a good little bit before it walked into the woods and I became worried about being responsible for making it go somewhere it definitely shouldn’t be. It was the best view I’ve ever had of a bear not in a zoo, but I wish it was in a less populated area.