Nope never seen a wild bear in Wisconsin. Got a bit closer than warranted to a female black bear and her cubs in the Great Smokey Mountains many years ago. Thankfully, she had the woods to her back (I was crossing a field to get a better look). She made a snorting growl type noise and took off — I did too.
I also got the opportunity to play with a black bear cub once a few years back. A bar owner up in Phillips had a game farm. He had a couple adult bears, but had also gotten a cub, which he was keeping in the basement of the bar. He brought him up to visit once when I stopped in and the bar was vacant. It was a neat experience. For such a youngster (I can’t remember his age, but you could hold him in your arms) he was very strong — especially his mouth. He was a chewer, and could really give you a pinch. He was constantly moving too. And he had an interesting smell — which is apparently a bear smell (it’s sort of like dirt and milk).
I’ve seen wolves up norht, and possibly heard something of the big cat variety, but no bears yet.
Bec
