Sticker Shockkkkk

[noelH]

And not a boat.

3 past springs of black bear deciding to put in new entries and exits to the fence that surrounds the yard.  Blessing in disguise.  Live in the middle of a heavily wooded 40. Just an ugly ~500 linear feet of wire fence with mostly steel T-posts surrounding the house.  Protection for the veggie gardens from the deer.  Process of downsizing everything.  Just a 34 x 34 ft fenced in garden to the south and similar area to the SW of the house that will not be fenced in.

Local building supply store wanted +$15 per 4x4 8ft treated. Didn't even bother to ask what the 10 footers are.   No one seem to know the CCA retention level. Just suitable for above grade. So I called the "local" farm supply center.  4" x 8ft treated fence posts for under $9.49.  Double what I paid a few years ago replacing a few 4x4 treated that sheered off at ground level.  Then the steel T posts. More than doubled from before.  $220 of posts.  Darn expensive lettuce.

Tax Day! Today is when I should be taking down the bird feeders (aka black bear treat), flush the well pressure tank, and replace the filter.  But awoke to..(image attached).    Use to be May 1st, but the black bear seem to be awaking from their winter nap earlier and earlier.  You cannot view this attachment.  At least there is no ice left even in the Bay.

[Chris Muthig]

When I first moved into Ocala National forest (Ocklawaha), 1st week I was there I bought a beautiful birdfeeder, made of metal, and filled it with seed.  I hung it from a tree, about 7-8 feet off the ground.
 Very next day it was on the ground mangled.  I straightened it best I could and gave it to my mom, never had a bird feeder again.  Been there 5 years, see bears in our yard almost every day, once had a mother and 2 cubs.  There was a huge male with a large scar on his back.  They never ever act aggressive towards us, either move of in the other direction or run when they see us.  I worry more about the coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and occasional florida panther.  I worry even more about rednecks that don't understand property lines and boundaries.  Every one of my neighbors is welcome on our property, but we all stay to ourselves and look out for each other.  It's a good life!  I'm right across the street from Lake Bryant, a huge lake quite a bit lower than us so we have no worries of flooding (would have to come up around 12 feet to worry).  Also have a 5 acre pond on our property that's a good drainage area also.  My neighbor's fenceline is Ocala National forest with a couple of miles of woods next to him.

[Timm R Oday25]

Noel ,we live just 20 miles east of Madison . Black bears are getting to be a regular sighting this far south .
Lumber prices are lower than they were during Covid . They are still high enough to have us thinking twice before we commit to bigger projects .
I'm fortunate to have perhaps (100) 14' two by fours and fifty 4"x6" by ten'.Dozens of 2x8" and 2x12" that we got for free last year .I couldn't imagine what we would have to pay at the local big box store for this much lumber