The severe late frost this spring destroyed the crops of low bush cranberries, huckleberries and blueberries in this part of Ontario.  Blueberries are an important food for black bears.  So they are not in good shape and are visiting us, sometimes causing problems.  In addition to the usual raids on garbage and bird/pet foods we’ve had two attacks on dogs recently.  And we have an eyewitness account of a bear killing and eating a mature Canada Goose a week ago.

Fortunately the choke cherries and black cherries are ripening, taking the edge off of their hunger.

Yesterday I came across a momma bear and her two cubs enjoying a morning snack along Riverside Road near Marcotte’s.  I stayed in the truck and managed to keep the doggies lying down on their seats.

First, one of the cubs checking out the photog from a patch of juniper (shintangle) bushes:

Mama peeking out from a choke cherry bush.

My only shot (ever) with a shaft of light illuminating a bear’s iris.

yum yum!

Time to move on….

15 minutes later, on my return trip, Momma bear surveyed the old Lachance Mill …

Then snuck off into the junipers with her family.

We hope that she’ll find enough food to keep away from humans.