Bruce Bayard was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1952, to Scandinavian parents, both World War II veterans. At an early age, they migrated to the San Franciso Bay area of California and later, in 1967, to the Santa Clara Valley, soon to emerge as the world-renowned Silicon Valley. After graduating high school, Bayard witnessed the Valley transform, in the '70's and '80's, into the computer Mecca that it is today.

Married in 1979, Bruce and his wife Cheryle traveled the United States extensively for several years until finally settling in the Hudson River Valley of New York in 1986. After attending college, the Bayard's family bloomed with the birth of their daughter, whom they named Trinity.

By 1990, Bruce Bayard decided to pursue his natural gifts and talents, and in 1993 opened up his business, "Wood Carvings by Chainsaw Bear, " as a chainsaw artist.

Bruce Bayard is also a writer and performer of Hudson River Valley modern folk tales.