I had company today

He's back in Chicago, now

Practicing with the rest of the team.

Is that Schoenstadt one of the new 45 caliber models?

Pardon my ignorance, but

is that likely a bear or a cat?

Pardon my ignorance, but

I'd say cat. Here's a bear

Don

you fellers don't get out in the field much huh?

cuz that thars a baar.

you fellers don't get out in the field much huh?

The bad part about that print is the fresh snow, sunshine, likely not real cold, and the print is still there - as big as his hand. That guy was close. No thank you very much.

I have a hard enough time with these guys. This guy was over 3 ft, and I just ran into my truck (which luckily was right there). At least now they are supposed to be sleeping, but last year around now I stepped right on one because I thought they were sleeping and wasn't looking. I about shyte me'pants...

Sorry.... not a Cat

> I'd say cat. Here's a bear
> Don

Sorry Don, I see 5 toes. Cats have 4 toes. Definitely a bear print. Wayne is also correct that the print appears to be pretty fresh. Time to be very watchful and a bit nervous.

Larry P

Pardon my ignorance, but

Toes pointed forward and on a well defined front end of the footpad = bear.

Toes around the front of a footpad that is somewhat round in front and somewhat flat in back, usually no claw marks in front of toes = cat. Picture a dog track that's a bit more round overall and no claw marks.

Rankin's is a bear, probably a grizzly as black bears footpads are even a little flatter across the front.

Pardon my ignorance, but

five toes = bear

four toes = cat/dog

Toes are the clincher

I only saw four at first and the pad looked felinious to me:-)

Also, the gloves looked more like something a cat would wear.

Don

Umm, look at the pad

didn't even have to count toes to know. The pad was a dead giveaway.

Look at the pad closer. See the crease between the ball of the pad and the heal.

That's a hind foot fer sure.

Here's a picture that might help the office jockies.

Pardon my ignorance, but

pretty small for a brown bear on its own. My monies on a young adult black bear.

Umm, look at the pad

Didn't see the back of the pad at first glance. In the snow I saw a small pad and four toes. That said cat to me.
Also, wiseguy:-), the picture I posted wasn't taken from my office. I could show you scars that would tear your heart out.

Don

Scars?

Accident prone are ya?

Scars?

An atheist was taking a walk through the woods. "What majestic trees!
What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!" he said to himself.
As he was walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the
bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7 foot grizzly charge
towards him.

He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder
and saw that the bear was closing in on him. He looked over his
shoulder again, and the bear was even closer. He tripped and fell on
the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear right
on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his
right paw to strike him.

At that instant the Atheist cried out: "Oh my God!..." Time stopped.
The bear froze. The forest was silent.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky:
"You deny my existence for all of these years, teach others I don't
exist, and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me
to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"

The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical
of me to suddenly ask You to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps
could you make the BEAR a Christian?"

"Very well," said the voice. The light went out. The sounds of the
forest resumed. And then the bear dropped his right paw, brought both
paws together and bowed his head and spoke:

"Lord, bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty
through Christ our Lord Amen."

Scars?

I've been surveying in the valleys, foothills and mountains of Northern California for 40 years. Yeah, I've had a few accidents and I've met some real pricks. Survived it all so far.

Don

Scars, I see why..

Anyone whose followed the footsteps of the Benson Syndicate and other GLO contract scoundrals of the 1860's-1890's through the steep brushy and extreme weather shifts of N Ca is alright in my book. Certainly proud scars to bear.

Back in the heyday of fiber optic lines I spent a winter surveying across NE Oregon. One cold snowy day I was working my way down a ridge right out of Baker City. On my way back up I noticed that a big cat had followed me down. Never saw him but his track were in mine. All just part of the job.

Benson

I’m so old that I actually worked for Benson. Really. Well, not so much work, as sit in the bar drinking shots of whiskey and composing imaginary topo calls. You know: “North on a true line, blah, blah, blah; 21.60 ch., a warm cleft in an inviting hollow, course NE & SW, blah, blah...” whoops, sorry, that was Maud the fancy girl (an inspiration to my labours); “33.50 ch., two firm knobs bear SE, 1.5 ch.” (drat, Maud again, interfering with the work); “40.00 ch., set major post in huge stone mound for 1/4 corner with bearing trees you wouldn’t believe.”
And so on.
I think the “Boss” really got a bad rap, though. He was always good to me and helped me get started in a respectable career.

Don