I have never really beleive the stories of bears in our area (I beleive they could be there but not that they actually are). Well, here is some possible proof. these look alot like claw marks up the tree. the tre is all of 2 step off my camp's porch.

looks like he went up a little on the above tree and then hopped over to the cherry. we also saw another tree thatwas scarred up a bit.

You live in NY and question that there are bears there???

You ever read the hunting regs??? LOL

Just jokin ya...

They're here in the western Finger Lakes region and seem to be on the rise. Bears...yes...cougars...I'll have to see one to believe it! Here's a cool little bear story for ya. Friday morning one of my uncles was leaving for work and noticed that one of the 3 feed bags full of apples was gone from under the apple tree. The apples were all scattered around but the rest of the bag was missing. The tree is right outside of his bedroom window and he routinely has deer eating the apples. He couldn't believe that a deer would carry the bag off so he looked for tracks but the snow was gone around the tree and yard. Last night, one of his neighbors and her kids were driven down the road about 9:00 and noticed something standing right by my uncle's mailbox. They stopped to get a closer look and it ended up being a big ole' blackbear. Once they stopped the bear turned around and ran down the hill into the vineyards. They stopped back this morning to take pics of the tracks and told my uncle about it. The bear was no doubt coming back to get another bag of apples. He's getting his video camera ready in case it comes back. In the past few years, everyone has been seeing bears around here. Chenango county has alot more bigwoods cover than there is around here so I believe that they're should definately be bears around there. A good friend of mine lives just outside Oxford and his next door neighbor had seen a bear around his pasture several times.

1st - i know there are bear in NY

2nd - never seen one or sign in Broome or Chenango Co. (Chenango more to the point)

3rd - what would a flatlander from A-Hi-A know about it anyway

oh, just jokin' ya

Seen one in Windsor. The old lady that owns one of the places I turkey hunt has a bear visiting regulary right in Vestal. She has thrown a pot of hot water on it's head and smacked him with a broom now. This women is a throw back 86 years old put up a stone fence last year.

I know they are more common in Broome (parts of Broome anyway). several sightings in Vestal, Deposit, and Windsor areas. I would love to see one around here. I will definitely be watching for more sign around my camp.

My friend saw one on the farm we hunt in Waverly