nichepoetryandprose

One of the experiences of the past two weeks was the sighting of a young Black Bear (Ursus americanus) along the Plaster Rock – Renous Highway.  The Black Bear was only a youngster, probably a two-year-old born last January or February (2011).  He watched us a long time from the woods, appearing a little confused.  Eventually, he wandered away.  He was probably rejoining his mama – Black Bears stay with their mothers until they are 16 or 17 months old.

I have seen/smelled a few bears in my life:

§ Once, on a fishing trip with my Uncle, he told me to stop and sniff the air.  The smell was fetid, unforgettable.  He told me you often smell a bear but almost never see one.

§ When we first built our house, our young neighbor was riding his bike up our gravel heap and encountered a bear coming up the other side of the pile!

§ When we first lived in our community, we had a garbage dump.  We used to go to the dump on the weekend and join the other cars, watching the bears work their way through the garbage.  I remember one was inside an old refrigerator, opening and closing the door!

§ On a work excursion to Mount Carleton, we saw a bear running up the road ahead of us, but it disappeared before we could get close.

§ Once, on the Salmon River Road, on a drive to Bouctouche with my sister-in-law and niece and nephew, we saw a full-grown bear, on a run from one side of the road to the other.  He had very long legs and ran by stretching his front legs out and bringing his rear legs up between them.  He only hit the pavement twice, once with each set of feet!

§ On our trip through the Rocky Mountains, I saw a bear, species unknown, in a steep ditch beside the roadway.

Have you ever seen a bear???

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©  Jane Tims  2012