Finally, after a year, we are doing a cleaning overhaul on the yard . . . hauling away stuff left by the previous owners, hauling away remodeling debris, mowing the weeds – I mean lawn, etc. I have run several ads on Craigs List for various items, so we’ve been fielding phone calls and trying to get rid of what we can. A man is coming Friday to try and take away one of the many shed that “grace” our property, so in preparation for this event, my husband and I were walking through the yard so I could show him some ferns I didn’t want damaged in the process. The dog next door was merrily barking when I noticed there was a crackling sound coming from the bushes on the other side of the shed. A sense of caution fell over me (there’s been a black bear lurking about, and today was trash day, which lures the bears to our neighborhood), so I proceeded with caution and began talking very loudly. The crackling in the brush increased, and sure enough, not a moment later a black bear emerged from the brush as he headed toward the woods. Dn. Joseph walked up the hill (away from the bear to get a better look and put a little distance between us and the bear, and as I began to follow him up the hill, I turned and noticed the bear beginning to follow us. Remembering my bear tutorials, I turned, stood tall, and looked the bear in the eye, as if to say, “Back off bear”. He looked back appraisingly, turned around, and headed back into the forest. I’m so glad he was not a brown bear. They’re not nearly so accommodating.
