I encountered this magnificent black bear while hiking in to Grassy Pond to observe a heron nest (just visible in the background). I've watched the heron nest for several years and hike in to see what's going on frequently. One evening in mid May I made the 2 miles hike and got there rather late. Quietly slipping down the trail to where I could catch a glimpse of the nest, I spotted movement through the trees in between me and the beaver dam at the outlet of the pond. It was the largest bear I've even seen! It was actually working it's way across the beaver dam to where I usually go sit when I watch the heron nest! I managed to get a few photos and then quietly backed up and walked away. The bear never knew I'd been there! For the sake of making a good painting, I moved the bear out of the trees and into the clearing in the foreground.
I encountered this magnificent black bear while hiking in to Grassy Pond to observe a heron nest (just visible in the background). I've watched the heron nest for several years and hike in to see what's going on frequently. One evening in mid May I made the 2 miles hike and got there rather late. Quietly slipping down the trail to where I could catch a glimpse of the nest, I spotted movement through the trees in between me and the beaver dam at the outlet of the pond. It was the largest bear I've even seen! It was actually working it's way across the beaver dam to where I usually go sit when I watch the heron nest! I managed to get a few photos and then quietly backed up and walked away. The bear never knew I'd been there! For the sake of making a good painting, I moved the bear out of the trees and into the clearing in the foreground.
Included in "Close Encounters of the Wild Kind", featured artist exhibit for August 2015, Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery.