Bears and Humans

Summer 2006
We regularly get visited by a full-grown black bear, as tall as I am when he is standing.  He once walked within 30 feet of my daughter while she played.  It did give her a bit of a shock, especially as he “huffed” as he went by, but she was more excited than fearful.

It is strange to me that many people are frightened of wild animals.  If you know and respect their nature, they are far less dangerous than humans.  Up close to a black bear, for instance, it becomes very clear he is only interested in finding food and having a quiet life.  I have stood within ten feet of our bear while he sat patiently waiting for me to get out of the way so he could get at my compost.  When I told him to go (in no uncertain terms), he got up and lumbered off to somewhere more peaceful.  Wild animals have their own lives and do not want to get over-involved with human hassles.       

Still, human beings carry their fear around with them and project it onto whatever is unknown.  Talking about lion’s tails and axe-handles, one neighbor goes for walks up the mountain road carrying one -- an axe-handle.  He looks more dangerous than the wild animals.