SWFeral Loc: SWNM

When I arrived at this trail camera to check on it and swap out the SD card I knew at once that bears had visited the pool it overlooks, because the camera was aimed at the ground. The camera had gone unchecked for three weeks and I knew by the relatively scant number of videos that the mischief had been done early on, a terribly annoying but not uncommon occurrence for me.

My irritation vanished when I watched the videos and saw what the culprit had been up to right before she messed with my camera. She plunged into this pool, seeming at first to be taken aback by its depth (there has been a LOT of rain on the Gila National Forest), and then she stood tall on her hind legs and brought her front paws down on the water's surface to create a mighty splash. Thus emboldened, she began and perfected a series of four belly flops. I'm not sure when I have laughed so hard over a trail cam video, and I thought to myself, Only a bear could get away with making that kind of a racket in the forest.

Then she got out of the pool, shook gallons of water off her coat, and ambled over to sabotage my recording efforts.

jrvinson45 Loc: Buckeye, AZ

AWESOME and Hilarious!

NMGal Loc: NE NM

She really tried to entertain you. Glad you got a lot of rain.

alx Loc: NJ

Bear just wanna have FUN!

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

I know, right? I suspect there is more to come.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

She did a good job of entertaining me! I've shared the video with several people, and they've all said things like this was exactly what they needed to pick them up. And yes, we are getting a ridiculous amount of rain!--some campgrounds are now closed due to flooding danger!

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

I believe they do. All the bears I've encountered have gone crashing off through the trees in terror; it's nice to discover they have a silly side.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

OMG!!! How absolutely awesome to see that bear splashing around and playing!! That has got to be some of the best wildlife photos I've seen!!

Love the photos!!

Dodie

niteman3d Loc: South Central Pennsylvania, USA

Amazing sequence!

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

wow.........thanks you for sharing these amazing pictures with us.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

Nice captures

Tdearing Loc: Rockport, TX

That's great.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

I'm glad you enjoyed these. Too bad that's one of my older cameras and the quality ain't so great, but it captured the bear's playful spirit and that's what counts. I hope for more silly antics next time I check the camera.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Thanks. I'm antsy to get out there and see what the bears have been up to in the intervening weeks.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

You are most welcome, and I hope to have more in the near future.