I went out to put some food out for the creatures at 10:30 last night.  I opened the door, cruised out onto the porch and looked up.  10 feet away at the bird feeders there was a black bear.  I just froze.  He jumped a little and then took off for some bushes in the yard. He didn't leave the yard though, I could hear him sniffing around behind the bushes.  I stood there for a minute, then came back inside to contemplate what to do.  Grab the camera?  Get the mace?  Get a gun?  As I was standing in the kitchen contemplating, the bear snuck up the stairs to the back porch, moving cautiously and sniffing the air as he went.  I saw his head in the kitchen window.  I decided to get the camera and the mace.  By that time he had moved to the pine tree in the back yard and was acting like he was trying to decide if he should go back to the feeders, or take off.  He kept looking at the feeder.. then looking up into the yard.  I tried to take a pic, but the flash was too weak to reach him.  The flash scared him off.  Wonder if he'll be back.  I hope not, I'd hate to have to quit feeding the birds.