Payne's Primitives

08/15/2026

Come on down to tunnel trek at Natural tunnel state park and check us out

08/10/2026

Do you feed pets outdoors? Pet food is a super-concentrated source of protein, fat, nutrients and calories. That’s why pet food is super-attractive to bears. Pet food is one of the top 3 things that attract bears to neighborhoods and homes. Emptying a bowl of pet food or getting their paws on a whole bag teaches bears that calories are a lot faster and easier to come by around homes and in neighborhoods than out in the woods.

A bear’s daily calorie needs quadruple in late summer and early fall. A 250-pound bear that needs about 3,000 to 3,500 calories a day in summer must consume 15,000 to 20,000 calories or more each day in the fall to gain enough weight to safely hibernate for the winter.

Bears have incredibly sensitive noses, so even an empty food bowl can attract a hungry bear. Bears are also very smart and quick learners, so you can be sure that after it licks the bowl clean, it will visit other homes in your neighborhood looking for more easy pickings and come back to your place looking for more. You can help keep pets, people and bears safe by learning more.

Read 8 Tips for Protecting Pets (and People) in Bear Country: bearwise.org/do-you-feed-your-pets-outdoors

BearSafety

08/08/2026

08/08/2026

Come on down to rambo ridge knap in and check out how stone tools are made

07/30/2026

I too have a favorite hammerstone .

Sea otters can retain their preferred rock tool for their entire life. 🦦🪨

Sea otters are the only marine mammals that regularly use stone tools, frequently balancing a preferred rock on their chest to crack open hard-shelled prey like clams and mussels. They carry this stone inside a loose pouch of skin under their forearm. A 2024 study highlights how this habitual tool use reduces tooth damage and helps them survive when preferred food resources decline.



References:
Science: Tool Use Helps Sea Otters Mitigate Dental Damage and Dietary Challenges
ZME Science: The Hidden Complexity and Intelligence Behind Marine Mammal Stone Tool Adaptations
Monterey Bay Aquarium: How the Strategic Retention of Tools Shapes Southern Sea Otter Survival Strategies

07/26/2026

Had a great day talking about primitive fire making with some local veterans .