Black bear odor???

[4sight]

Hey folks,
I'm not at all familiar with the signs of black bear inhabitation, so I figured I'd post the question here.
This past weekend I was up at deer camp (Herkimer County, NY) making some repairs while the weather was warm.
At a point in the day, around dusk, I detected a very strong odor in the air. The best way I can describe it is that is was very similar to the smell of a zoo or game farm. An odor that is "distinctly animal".
Now, I've always heard that bears have a very unique and strong odor. I did not hear any movement, nor see anything in the woods. After about 5 minutes the odor disappeared.
Could this have been a nearby bear? I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has hunted or had an encounter if this sounds at all familiar to them.

Thanks,
Brian

[BTBowhunter]

I've killed two bears and been around a few more. the ones I've experienced didn't smell strong but there was some odor on some of them. The closest term I could use to describe a bears odor (when they have one) is something similar to a wet dog

[Wilds]

Sasquatch.........................

[WVSPORTSMAN]

2X.....THEY SMELL LIKE WET DOGS.....BUT WORSE

[tky1187]

Wet dog is what I was always told they smell like.

[2 Lunger]

You my friend, encountered the rarest animal of them all. The elusive sasquatch. I know there are plenty of streams and lakes that these animals can bathe in but they refuse to do so.

[bronko22000]

4sight, If you are downwind from where a herd of elk have been hanging around the odor will be like that of a barnyard. If no elk in your area then I might have to agree with some of the other posts in that you may have encountered the infamous sasquatch. It was either of these two things or maybe you were just working too hard and got a whiff of yourself!!

[Bowstringpa]

COYOTE AND FOX HAVE A SKUNKY CAT PISS SMELL. FERAL HOGS COULD BE AND OPTION.

[Bowstringpa]

HOT DOG I JUST SAW I'M A FORK HORN NOW!!!! LOOK OUT BOYS ANOTHER YEAR I'LL BE KICKEN SOME ASS

[jerseyhunter]

I've always heard that bears have a very unique and strong odor.

Must be why Jersey stinks[:'(]