the garden

Oh, it's you!

He or she has lived on the wooded hill for several years.
The first time he/she visited, he or she flattened the pole
from which our bird feeders hang
then shook each one vigorously to get the seeds out.
i confess that i laughed when i found them, picturing him or her
flinging the things back and forth in his/her mouth...since they have no thumbs.
Then the bear sniffed out the large, galvanized can with the
very tight lid where we stored the 50 pound bag of seeds
ripped the lid off, pulled out the bag and sat down
on a peony
and ate until they were all gone.

Picking up the empty bag and seeing a full set of
his/her claw marks in the paper
was more awe-inspiring than amusing.

After we bent the pole back into an upright position
and put the metal feeders back together.
From then on
we dutifuly brought those feeders indoors every night before bed
and put them back out each morning.
(Yes, we do love watching birds around here. And we are glad when
it's time for bears to hibernate for the winter.)

Fresh scat in the grass let us know that he/she kept visiting
looking for more free snacks
but there was no further damage
until
one night, we forgot to bring the feeders in.
We bent the pole back up again
though it does list rather sharply to one side, now
repaired the metal feeders again
and have not forgotten since.
The feeders and poles have gone unmolested for a few years.

However, this year
he or she has obviously been contemplating our behavior as well.
Last week, our bear arrived early, unbeknownst to us
while we were still watching television.
He or she flattened the newest pole and flung the new
highly flexible feeder about
ate, then left.
Since we now store the seed in a locked shed
he or she got just a snack instead of a feast.

A couple of nights ago our guest arrived even earlier
at dusk.
i glanced up from the computer
and there was this enormous guy/gal strolling across the garden.
It was only the second time i'd seen a black bear this close
about 15 yards away and
adrenalin zinged me up onto my feet.
(i'm not one of those who grabs the camera first
hence the sketches rather than snaps)

He/she looked up as i opened the window



and when i yelled "go away!"
our bear turned quickly away and trotted off.

i admit
at first i was relieved that he or she is scared of my voice
but then i immediately felt a little sad, too.
Our bear is very cute.
i keep thinking how fun it could be to get to know him or her
you know, in a different sphere of existence.
Bjorn, or course
or Bernadette if it's a her.

i'm hoping Isaiah is right, and that
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and
the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and
the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
and a little child shall lead them...
and that we get to play with bears.

September 18th

For the past 2
or is it 3 years?
we've been diligently taking our bird feeders indoors
every night and putting them out again at first light
throughout spring, summer and fall months
ever since the black bear that lives in the woods behind our house
made his first visit, knocked them all down
and obviously enjoyed shaking the feeders violently until he got all the seeds out.
He also broke into the can
with the very tight fitting lid
where we stored the bag of sunflower seeds
and dragged the bag over to the wall where the peonies grow
plopped his furry behind down in the middle of the peonies
and tore open the bag for another
no doubt more satisfying meal.

The next time we forgot
and left the bird feeders out one summer night
he decided to smash our compost bin full of kitchen veggie trimmings
so we gave up on compost.
For those 2-3 years he only came 'round
on those nights when we forgot to bring in the feeders.
He must have a very good nose.

But that all changed last week.
He's obviously getting ready for his long winter nap
(i assume it is a "he" since i've never seen cubs in attendance)
and he must remember where there are easy pickings
and he came in the middle of the day
during the 45 minutes i ran errands.
i found only his scat and
the flattened poles and mangled feeders.

i'll remind you that we live two blocks from the center of town
at the base of a wooded hill.
There is not, yet, a policy for relocating nuisance bears.
And i can understand why, since there are very few instances of dangerous bear behavior.
But there is an annual, furious debate of the limited Bear Hunt.
And i can understand why.
While i do acknowledge that we are the only predators left in these parts
who can effectively control the bear population,i know
without doubt
that not every hunter who lusts for a trophy bear
knows how to hunt bear.
i know it takes special skill and knowledge
(my father taught me how to handle guns and hunt and
the dangers of not knowing what to do when).
Regretfully, irresponsibly, the state officials who issue the licenses, do not require sufficient hunter education...but simply bow to the gun lobby, and their own lust for the dollars the licenses bring in.
Consequently, it is a dangerous proposition.
Often far more dangerous than having too many bears in the neighborhood.
Every year when the Bear Hunt Debate revs up i shudder at the prevalent American attitude that says:
"I am free to do anything I want, Anytime and Anyplace I wish"
and so we end up with armed amateurs in the woods.
It's always been a problem
and will probably never change.

After i voice my support for stricter control
i turn my attention back to the birds
i miss having them dining right outside the window.
Gratefully, the garden is full of seeds
so many of our feathered visitors still visit us
and i only have to pick up the binoculars to get a good look.
When the bear finally goes to sleep
we'll put new feeders out.
A few days
maybe only hours
the word will spread and
the woodpeckers and cat birds will return to the suet
and the wrens, finches, cardinals, chickadees et al  to the seeds.

This little fellow
among the clematis seed heads and one final flower
is always here: