Bear Bath
We never realized that black bears were using our pond as a bath tub. Once we setup the phototrap, it became clear that they love to splash around on occasion. The phototrap captures this sequence of a bear enjoying my parents pond, one of the reliable water sources in the area.
First she looked around before testing the waters.
She also seems to be eating some of the algae or water plants that grow in the pond.
Let the bath begin.
She doesn't seem to really mind the flash even though it is very bright. Maybe it resembles lightning. Without the flash it is pitch dark.
The pond actually fits her quite well.
We recently removed some rocks and the pump from the pond. This may be why she is so comfortable lying down. In previous baths the other bear that visited mostly sat.
The bath is over so it is probably time to look for apples in the neighborhood of which almost every yard seems to have a huge supply.
When done she walks right by the camera and leaves the pond very much as she left it. I always thought a huge bear would leave a trail of destruction but she actually had a very small foot print.
