The latest reported bear sighting in Stowe occurred on Tuesday morning around 9 a.m., when a mama black bear and her cub took a stroll around the home of Jim and Becky Tunick on Owls Head Lane, just off Covered Bridge Road. The couple had put a bird feeder about a half-hour earlier, but they quickly took it down when the bears arrived. The bears sniffed around for a bit and then returned to the woods, the Tunicks said. Photo courtesy of Jim Tunick.

Bear Watch

Top, photos by Caroline Armbruster.

Below, sighting off of Elmore Mountain Road. Photo by Suzi Vermeulen-Quick. 

Peter Miller exhibit at Frog Hollow, opening June 7

An exhibit of Peter Miller’s photographs will open on Friday, June 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Frog Hollow Gallery, 85 Church St., Burlington, including photographs from his new book, “A Lifetime of Vermont People.”

http://bit.ly/14vNrf5

Nathan Tanner of Morrisville, a student at the Green Mountain Technology and Career Center, received Congressman Peter Welch’s Choice Award for his work, “Autumn Road,” at the 32nd annual Congressional Art Competition for high school students at The Gallery at Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier on Monday, May 13.

Skiing Memorial Day

Dave Hatoff getting in Memorial Day turns. 

Photos by Dave Sautter.

The guns are going

The snow guns are blasting at Stowe now that temperatures have dropped. The mountain aims to open Saturday, Nov. 22.

Photo by Glenn Callahan

Julie Sohn of JS Garden Design assembles a seasonal winter box on the front of the Stowe Area Association building on Tuesday.
Photo by Glenn Callahan

Early turns

A snowboarder makes some early-season turns down Gondolier Friday afternoon. A snowstorm during the beginning of the week left about a foot of snow on the trails at Stowe. By Friday, it was melting fast.

Photo by Marina Knight

Misty Morning

Mist rises off colorful treetops in Stowe a few weeks ago. Now, all the leaves are gone as we wait for winter. This photo, by Chuck Gangas, was submitted to StoweToday.com’s photo contest. The deadline for submission is this Thursday, October 30.

Fallen leaves

Most of the leaves have fallen and Stowe is entering stick season, the brief period before snow arrives. Stowe’s scheduled opening is planned for November 22, if the weather cooperates.
Photo by Marina Knight

A wet ride

A boulder in Sterling Gorge is speckled with colorful autumn leaves.

Photo by Glenn Callahan

Hay time

It's haying time. A Stowe farmer makes his way across the fields at Ricketson's Farm.
Photo by Glenn Callahan

The Campaign Trail

Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama stops in Manchester, N.H. along the campaign trail Saturday. The state is a swing state with 4 electoral votes on the line.
Photo by Neil Korn

Stowe High's Luke Grosvenor takes control in the boys' game against BFA Fairfax. Stowe won the game 3-0.

First loss in a long time

Members of the Rice girls’ field hockey team rush onto the field after winning 3-2 over Stowe. The loss was Stowe’s first since 2005.

Photo by Glenn Callahan

Super Dog

Bentley, the super dog, makes his way to the crest of Stowe’s Pinnacle hike on Sunday.

Evening glow

A magical array of colors lights up the sky over Stowe as the sun goes down. Photographer Paul Moody said the color lasted two sweet minutes.

Harrisons wins season

The Harrison’s team won the Stowe Coed Softball Championship this season. In back row, from left: Tucker Fossiano, Randy Lawrence, Erik Van Natta, Mike Atwood, Tim Sargent, Graham Mink, John Flint, Phil Grant. In front, from left:) Crystal Williams, Devon Heath, Andrew Kneale, Anne Kneale, Julie Atwood. Missing: Kate Toland, J.J. Toland.

Statehouse in Stowe

Ed Rhodes, vice president of the Stowe Historical Society, talks with Mary Gibson alongside a scale model of the Vermont statehouse on Main St. on Thursday. The model was in town as part of the Societies annual meeting at the Stowe Community Church.
Photo by Glenn Callahan

Bear crossing

A black bear avoids traffic as it bolts across Luce Hill Road in Stowe, Tuesday. Photographer, C. Nelson James, of Burlington, grabbed his camera to capture the scene.

"The bear was galloping out in the big field, came against a wood fence, zigzagged toward me, went into a full sprint as it darted across the road and disappeared into the corn field about 50 feet from the Stowe bike path parking lot," James said.

According to Douglas Lawrence, a lieutenant with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, Black Bear sightings this time of year are numerous.

"Life is good for them right now. The chokecherries are out, they grow in open areas near roadsides, blackberries are ripe. They are spending all their time eating," Lawrence said.

It is not uncommon to see bears in densely populated area either, Lawrence said. Over time they have been adapting to more development and they quickly learn where they safe and where they're not.

The state estimates current bear population in Vermont at between 3,000 and 5,000. Specialists say their numbers are heavily dependant on each year’s Beech Nut yield. The protein and fat-rich food helps them survive Vermont’s harsh, cold winters.

Those interested in learning more about black bears can visit the North American Bear Center's website.

Contrary to popular misconception, black bears are highly unlikely to attack humans. In fact, nearly all adult bears die from human-related causes. Most are eventually shot and a few are killed by vehicles. Recently, a motorcyclist hit a bear near the Stowe/Waterbury town line. It is not known what happened to the bear, but the motorcyclist was seriously injured after being thrown off the bike.

Bear hunting season this year begins September 1 and lasts until November 19. - MK