I am a Bear enthusiast from the Shenandoah valley and visit Shenandoah national park often.

I am the published 10-year old author of the children's book "Oh No, Gertrude!, The True Story of a Not-So-Naughty Black Bear". My name is Gabriel Mapel, and I am the author. I and my family paired with a friend of ours, and a photographer, Rodney Cammauf who supplies full color photographs of Gertrude and her 3 cubs. The book is less then a month old. Here is a link to the website.

www.oh-no-gertrude.com

I think Bears are amazing creatures, but sometimes I feel sad when I see people treat them inappropriately. Here are some tips for your safety and the bears:

1. Never feed a Bear. When bears get feed they become Habituated to Humans, and if near a picnic area, will likely approach food at picnic tables, even if people are there. The people get scared off and the bears get the food. Then the rangers name them "Trouble bears" and depending on the park, they may have to be killed or moved. So never feed or touch a bear, and never leave unattended food out on picnic tables that bears could get to. I know a Bear, a Mama and 3 cubs that found unattended food left out on a picnic table, and she was a major trouble bear, and 1 people food meal, the bear is habituated, ONE bad meal, 1,000 problems. I knew a different bear, a Mama and 2 cubs that also had to get moved, because of hand feeding.

2. Never Run from a Bear. Although very rare, if bears see people run, they might think you are prey and run after you, and you CAN NOT run faster then a Bear!

3. Bears will sometimes Bluff Charge, this often occurs with Mom's defending there cubs or Adult Male bears in mating season being defensive of the sows they want to mate with. In this regard and others when you might fell that the bear is being a threat to you, do not run, but talk in a quite but firm voice "Easy Bear, Easy, Everything is alright, Easy Bear, Easy..."

4. Bears communicate! If you hear a bear huff (also known as blowing) or if they pop there jaws or make a growl-like sound or a snort it usually means they are asking for more space and you should back away...

5. Never touch Wildlife including Bear, although a Bear may run away before you could get close to touching it or other things like that, with a very habituated bear, it could happen. And that problem is more a problem with Deer. When wildlife gets habituated to human touch, similar things can happen as when they get feed. And deer have to be killed in Shenandoah park and can not be moved because of disease spread!

Happy Bear Viewing!

In the past if someone comments on my photo, I would almost always comment back in thanks. Now that I am getting more photo comments, it's getting harder for me to do that. In the past, I often added to my contact list more, and commented on other people's pictures more. This is also getting harder for me to do. So, if I don't do these things, no offense, I still greatly appreciate the comments, and enjoy your photos as I see them..