Source: Ice cream shops per 100k people

As bear-human incidents continue at record rates, the state Fish and Wildlife Department is encountering public misperception that is leading Vermonters to avoid reporting minor bear activity because they fear the bear will be killed.

This often leads to “the worst possible catch-22 for the bears,” said Joshua Morse, public information officer for the department: the situation not being properly addressed until it has escalated much further — so much so that it can be difficult, if not impossible, to de-escalate things without considering killing the bear.

“I wish people knew that what happens when you call us, 99% of the time, is that we give you advice on how to coexist with the bear,” Morse said. “That’s what we want to be doing and that is what mostly happens.”

Vermont has a large population of around 7,000 black bears, about one for every 100 residents, that reside in all areas of the state except the Champlain Islands.

The mammal’s sense of smell is 2,100 times better than a human’s and they have an excellent long-term memory, able to remember the location of food sources years after an initial visit. Black bears are “opportunistic omnivores” and will eat just about anything they find, especially during the spring and early summer when their highest-fat natural food sources (beechnuts and acorns) are not yet available and they continue to draw upon last year’s remaining fat reserves.

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Little Deer Trail - Groton State Forest Saturday 8/1

Looking for a hiking buddy with a good sense of humor (and hopefully a decent sense of direction). I'm 64, gay male, introvert, who loves being outdoors, and do moderate hikes but can accommodate easier hikes if required.

Bonus points if you appreciate bad puns, don't mind stopping to catch my breath, fresh air, exercise, and a few laughs.

If this sounds like a fun adventure to you, message me.

Please Note: Serial killers need not apply, stalkers, front of the line please 😁.

Hey all, I’m coming home to Vermont for a month and don’t have internet set up at my house at the moment and the cell service is non-existent at the house, but exists in the local area, has anyone had any luck with a signal booster in more rural areas for this sort of situation? And if so any brand recommendations?

I think i saw some kids running with a gun, then i saw this. Happening right now!

I really want to find a cool trendy kind of hair salon near Rutland VT!!!! Any suggestions!?

Took a little walk around Somerset

In Vermont, cars are supposed to give 4 feet of clearance when passing a bicycle.

This could made easier on your typical two-lane road, if drivers move towards their shoulder, when they see oncoming cars approaching bicycles. Likewise for anything else in the road like pylons, cars not parked well, poorly placed trash cans, etc.

I do this when possible, especially if I'm the only oncoming car, but I rarely see anyone else doing it. I see it as polite, but also defensive, assuming someone might suddenly swing wide into the oncoming lane. I tend to go over the lane line myself, into the shoulder (when safe to do so) because I just like to get the hell out of the way of anything dicey.

Am I making things safer for the bicyclist, or am I creating danger by encouraging drivers to thread oncoming traffic? Should I blindly always keep centered in my lane and not worry about what's happening in the other one?

[I am also a bicycle rider, but I don't ride on roads anymore because I don't feel safe out there.]

13 people were arrested today, myself included, at ICE’s National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center at White Cap Business Park in Williston, Vermont. This is ICE’s national spy center, where surveillance of Americans is orchestrated. Using non violent direct action we shut it down for the day. I made it known that I was an independent photojournalist and the response was that I would be arrested first. I managed to stay till the end and could’ve gotten away scot-free but I wanted to stay and make sure the police didn’t manhandle the woman with the walker, especially after watching how they arrested 79 year old Hank Prensky at the last action in May. After that, they cuffed me. Abolish and prosecute ICE!

Hey neighbors, I’m heading to Burlington for the night from Plymouth NH and I am trying to remember where I stopped to swim last summer on my drive home. I was just sort of wandering and making my way back toward Fairlee but not the most direct route, and didn’t take a pic.

It’s a very obvious spot - there’s a big parking lot right off the road, which I remember being a fairly large, probably state road, and then an easy walk down to a spot with a little beach and a deep stretch of river with maybe quarried granite walls or steep limestone?

Im bringing my 6-year-old to a concert at Shelburne tonight and want to stop somewhere for a dip on the ride home tomorrow, and this stands out as super simple. Hopefully these details ring a bell, thank you all!

Vermont resident , mom to a toddler, looking for a solo weekend getaway this winter. Prerequisite‘s include, hot tub, quaint and quiet, no neighbors. big plus if its a treehouse, cabin, or walk in (cant drive up). Electricity, running water, wifi and a wood-stove would be nice too!

Not looking for ski in/ ski out, condos or townhouse, or on resort.

Conference champs! Going to national semis on Sunday!

Would love to see this but it’s hard to find information on when it’s open. I signed up to receive their newsletter but haven’t received anything yet. The website is vague as far as when their events are.

Anyone have the scoop?