There’s something about the sight of a black bear in the wild that imprints itself into one’s mind and never fades away. I still remember plastering myself up against the bus window, unwilling and unable to look away as the large creature ambled slowly past. He was startlingly close to the vehicle, but he showed no interest in it or in us.
I, on the other hand, was entranced with him. The sun glistened off of coarse jet-black fur. Powerful shoulders and hips rippled under his coat with each slow, deliberate stride. The head was held low, muzzle to the ground, face nearly hidden from view behind tall grass as he constantly grazed.
And on that magical day would you believe we had seven more beautiful black bear sightings? It was June in the Rocky Mountains and all the bears were out foraging after their long winter fast, making this an ideal time for bear sightings. Most were grazing and wandering slowly. None were aggressive or seemed at all dangerous, if not for lack of provocation. One man jumped out of his car with his camera in hand, and actually followed a bear into the woods for a close-up picture. Not a great idea! Yet lack of any reports in the news in the subsequent days suggests that he returned just unharmed.
Personally, my favourite sighting of the day, and one I have replayed in my head over and over, happened on the right side of the bus. I just happened to glance out the window just in time to see a large female black bear cross the ditch and gallop across the meadow beyond. I knew she was a female because of the two adorable little round-headed baby cubs that galloped happily after her.
Comments