Bearanoid

When we got home from work today, our cats were hiding under the bed.  I thought that was pretty weird, but we didn't really pay it any mind until we got back from our run and I found a bunch of big scratch marks on the back deck under our small (and now empty and broken open) bird feeder.  Uh oh.

Just before we sat down to dinner, Ripley went outside and then went wild and here's what we found:

Can you see him?  He let me get a better view after he ate all the horsetails.

Adorable?  Yes. Welcome?  No.

This little guy was not the same one we saw when Nick and Miranda were visiting (no tags on the ears this time).  Also, he's tiny (smaller than Ripley).  I'm surprised (and SO HAPPY) we didn't see a mama running around with him.

He decided the horsetails in the backyard were boring and headed out front.  I opened the door and he was just walking by.  AHH!

Then Andy got brave and took a couple closer ones.  That's the door frame on the right side of the picture.

He went back around to the other side of our house and headed straight for the bird feeder area.  Shit.

When he got up to the stairs we decided enough was enough.  Andy went outside and banged a metal spoon around in a pot for awhile and scared him away.

So...my night was eventful.  Oh yeah, and the birdseed's going away until the fall.  The neighbors came over to tell us they took a really neat video of the bear on our deck going to town on the feeder this afternoon. Great.  I officially feel stupid and now I know why the cats were under the bed when we got home.  Live and learn I guess.  I know that bird seed is attractive to bears, but we thought the position of the feeder, and the fact that it was a tiny amount, wouldn't be as exciting as all the open garbage cans around town.  Hopefully the bear(s) won't be back.  If they get too friendly fish and game comes and shoots them, which we definitely don't want.  Rookie Alaskan mistake!