Day in the Life

Stuff Seen on Showings (SSOS) - Bears in Maine

Here in Maine, we have black bears. They are found nearly statewide, but most commonly in northern and eastern Maine. Although, they have been slowly encroaching into more heavily settled areas like Southern Maine. My hometown of Gorham has seen an increase in bear sightings over the last few years documented by numerous facebook videos. We are advised not to have bird feeders in backyards lest we tempt a hungry bear for a quick meal-to-go.

Nothing represents Maine more than our black bears. In fact, The University of Maine’s flagship campus in Orono even has a black bear for its athletic mascot. Did you know that Orono’s first use of a mascot was a real live black bear cub named Bananas?

The University of Maine website describes how Bananas came to be:

A small black bear cub named Jeff, born on the northeast slope of Mount Katahdin, was presented to O.B. Fernandez, a former Old Town police chief and collector of wild animals, in 1914. Fernandez loaned the bear to the university, where Jeff was introduced at a football rally. As the tiny black bear entered the auditorium, the surprised crowd applauded enthusiastically. When Jeff stood on his head, the crowd went “bananas” — giving rise to the name of all future UMaine bear mascots. (At some point, the University of Maine switched to a bear costume)

I have been surprised at the number of bears I’ve seen, but of the wooden variety, as I drive around Maine for showings and other real estate work. Some of these “bears” are true works of art, expertly crafted from dead tree stumps. What surprises me even more though are the locations in which I have found these carved creatures... alongside the road, guarding entryways, and in random fields. Some are adorned with scarves, bandanas, and one ironically holding a chainsaw. My favorite sighting was a bear wearing a hunter-orange bandana in the middle of a field during hunting season… No rhyme or reason for its placement/purpose or the point of an inanimate object wearing orange.

Here are a few of my favorites out of the dozens I have encountered in my daily travels.

Another day in the life of a real estate agent. #RealtorOnTheGo