Black Bear Visits Shady Rest Neighborhood

A lone bear came out of the woods and stood below the tall deck of the Budman family.  He stayed in the driveway for quite a while, undeterred by their barking dogs.  

After a while he meandered across the street to the Gaffney family home, where several bird feeders hang along the periphery of the large yard.  While the bear checked feeder after feeder, the family came out onto the deck and snapped these awesome photos.  

When the bear gave up on the feeders, he walked to the end of Barker Drive, made a left, and lazed about a yard on the corner, walking around the house, probably in search of more feeders.  Several children on bikes came out to take photos, and some played not more than 20 feet from the bear, who seemed very nonchalant about the company.

Eventually, the bear returned to the woods, having made the day of many of the Shady Rest neighbors. "He had no fear of us, and he wasn't threatening in the least. It was a joy to see him," Bob Gaffney said.