Bears this time of year in Annapolis Nova Scotia?

OkayShooter

OkayShooter

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So I was taking garbage to the bin and noticed tracks in the snow, leading from my backyard to my driveway. I assumed it was a dog from 2 houses down as they love to let it free roam. But the tracks were too big for the Sheppard. But the pace was almost super stretching my legs. Almost 4ft from right foot to left. Too small to be foot prints.

Tracks went from the house with horses, to a tree, then towards my house, down my snow covered driveway and over a snow bank left of my driveway.


2nd pic is my size 10 rubber boots next to them.

What could it be? As this is the first time seeing them.
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Both black bear and grizzly bear tracks and actual bears have been seen in late January and early February here in BC.

Now I understand you folks in Nova Scotia do not have grizzly bears, but black bears can definitely be out for a stroll in February.
 
Thunderhog said:
Both black bear and grizzly bear tracks and actual bears have been seen in late January and early February here in BC.

Now I understand you folks in Nova Scotia do not have grizzly bears, but black bears can definitely be out for a stroll in February.
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I only ask, as my dogs are dumb enough to go after one. I barely see any wildlife here and been living here 8 years. I'm semi rural and on the tail end of a small town. I hear yotes, only seen deer twice and a skunk once that chased me back in my house. But never a bear.. There is a huge bank behind most of the houses in the area, preventing any animal from really getting up. They must enter from the end houses in the run.

The tracks don't come from the trees, but in between a house and horse pen. Unless the guy went on some drunken, drug infused bender. But he is smaller than me, and he would be doing lunges for a bit.

But it didnt stop at the garbage bin or green bin. Its odd. Im not a hunter, just curious to knowing what around.
 
Black bears do not normally feed at this time of year. I've seen them sunning themselves just outside their den in late January while snowmobiling and predator hunting during the winter.

In saying this, it might not be a good idea to try a get a selfie with one. You might pick the bears wrong side! LOL.......:)

I could not confirm from your posted pictures, but those tracks could be black bear tracks.

Just be careful..........:)
 
Don’t think it’s usual for bear to just go for a hike with no reason in winter?

There was a year old cub wondering around here last February by itself. Bear sanctuary guy ended up trapping it after a bunch of social media buzz. My best guess was the sow died. Not sure if wolves would be a possibility? Sow kept them busy while cub ran off?
 
Jimbobob08 said:
Don’t think it’s usual for bear to just go for a hike with no reason in winter?

There was a year old cub wondering around here last February by itself. Bear sanctuary guy ended up trapping it after a bunch of social media buzz. My best guess was the sow died. Not sure if wolves would be a possibility? Sow kept them busy while cub ran off?
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Definitely not the norm, but does happen.

Out here in BC, some packs of wolves have learned how to locate hibernating black bears, dig them up, kill them, and eat them.

Wolf packs can be a large as twenty one members.

A few ole' trappers have been killed and eaten by wolves over the last 100 years.......:(
 
Jimbobob08 said:
Don’t think it’s usual for bear to just go for a hike with no reason in winter?

There was a year old cub wondering around here last February by itself. Bear sanctuary guy ended up trapping it after a bunch of social media buzz. My best guess was the sow died. Not sure if wolves would be a possibility? Sow kept them busy while cub ran off?
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I'm not a hunter. So I don't know. I moved from the city to the country 8 years ago. I just never seen a bear, even walking the dogs in the trails. But it's just odd because the way the property is laid out and first time in 8 years I've seen these tracks on my property.

There is a bank from pit mining behind, so nothing is getting up there. So it traveled from a backyard 3 houses down, between a house and horse pasture (with electric fence ) across my neighbours backyard. Then across mine then detoured towards mynhoise and down the driveway.

Im not afraid of living with wildlife, just generally courious to what roams while Im sitting inside. And to watch when my dogs are outside. Phoenix would go after a bear.
 
OkayShooter said:
I'm not a hunter. So I don't know. I moved from the city to the country 8 years ago. I just never seen a bear, even walking the dogs in the trails. But it's just odd because the way the property is laid out and first time in 8 years I've seen these tracks on my property.

There is a bank from pit mining behind, so nothing is getting up there. So it traveled from a backyard 3 houses down, between a house and horse pasture (with electric fence ) across my neighbours backyard. Then across mine then detoured towards mynhoise and down the driveway.

Im not afraid of living with wildlife, just generally courious to what roams while Im sitting inside. And to watch when my dogs are outside. Phoenix would go after a bear.
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Put up a trail cam and let us know what you find out
 
Those are not bear tracks, nor the walking pattern of a bear. The tracks are spaced and configured as an ungulate would be or perhaps a trotting wolf... hard to see clearly if there are toe prints or not. Are you sure they are not hooves?
 
hoytcanon said:
Those are not bear tracks, nor the walking pattern of a bear. The tracks are spaced and configured as an ungulate would be or perhaps a trotting wolf... hard to see clearly if there are toe prints or not. Are you sure they are not hooves?
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Def not one of the neighbour horses, or sheppard dog. As my dog is bigger and paws are half the size of these. Whatever it was..I'm sure I'll see it again.
 
In the valley I saw bears less commonly than Bobcats and Cougars, never mind coyotes. I think DNR used to have an animal tracks guide online. If you really want to know take a clear pic and go to the Lawrencetown DNR office.
 
OkayShooter said:
Def not one of the neighbour horses, or sheppard dog. As my dog is bigger and paws are half the size of these. Whatever it was..I'm sure I'll see it again.
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Without clearer pictures, I would have guessed "moose" from the configuration and spacing.
 
hoytcanon said:
Without clearer pictures, I would have guessed "moose" from the configuration and spacing.
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Hoyt..That was my initial guess with the print spacing...but a moose, ANY moose would leave a clear defined split hoof print. If there was more snow and weather to fill them in and obscure them (( I can't tell from these pics)) then that's why I suggested a big cat...no definition in the tracks.
 
kevin g said:
Hoyt..That was my initial guess with the print spacing...but a moose, ANY moose would leave a clear defined split hoof print. If there was more snow and weather to fill them in and obscure them (( I can't tell from these pics)) then that's why I suggested a big cat...no definition in the tracks.
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If it is kicking up a thin layer of soft snow you may not see a defined print... if he followed them for a distance, at some point he would find clear evidence... I am certain, however, it is not a bear... wrong configuration of the print and the spacing. Bears do get up and walk around in the winter, I have followed them from den to den in a loop many times, just curious about their activity. Usually only a short distance of a few hundred meters, but once about 3 km over hill and dale, right back to the same den. They are always moving slowly and with sluggish pacing, the tracks are close together and wander and meander alot. Not at all like the OP's pictures.
 
I agree with hoytcanon and thunderhog, I have definitely observed black bears in BC out and about in Feb, with snow on the ground. But they always move slower, for obvious reasons and their gait is shorter.
Although blacks don't have grizzly length claws, they should still be visible in the snowy tracks at some point, if it is a bear. There is less of a chance of seeing the usual bear signs (ie. scat, tree rubs/fur transfer etc.) that you see in the other seasons when they're more active, but you should be able to track it from it's paw prints in the snow pretty easily, if you're comfortable doing so. Snow can make tracking a lot easier.

I think it was mentioned before, but if that bear is up and about somewhat unusually mid-winter and seems to be hanging around people/houses, that may be a bear to steer clear of for safety reasons, especially if you're somewhat inexperienced with wildlife and their behavior.

Tracks are always cool to find! Nothing better than being a part of nature
 
Here's a couple photos of one of the tracking books I have. Might help with ID or just giving you more info on their tracks in general. Cheers!
 

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There are fresh tracks in the snow today, but they're shorter distance and smaller paw. More erratic and path I've seen my neighbour dog wonder.
 
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