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