We had some major excitement last night. Not sure if I mentioned to you the bear we keep coming across on our nightly walk, and the bear scampers up the mtn and most importantly - respectfully out of the way. Well yesterday evening, I saw the bear just in time. He was standing on the edge of one of the cliffs about to approach the road Bo and I were on!! Bo, for some reason didn't notice him before I did - so I was able to prepare for the inevitable leash pull. Well kind of. The bear didn't scamper this time. He just walked right out onto the road - 40ft away and right in front us. I'm like WTF.
Bo is suddenly aware of the bear and starts acting like it's another dog he wants to meet. No barking, no high sniffing nor tracking; such as when he's trying to catch a whiff of the chipmunks, bunnies, squirrels, turkeys, whatever in the area. Just a whole lotta of yanking on the leash, play bowing, a bit of excited whimpering, and I'm thinking where the hell -- is the Airedale BIGBADBARK. WTF!!!
The bear starts moseying down the road - the road between me, Bo and our house. So between the books saying you must stand your ground with the black bears and there's really no place for us to go except down. I bark out my own BIGBADBARK. Hey Moxie, Buster and Bo respect it - but the bear just looks at me like I'm a crazy woman with a happy 'dale and continues down the mtn road right in front of us. So what do I do - we follow. Wondering, where's the tourist (aka bear paparazzi) when you need them.
The bear moseys down the mtn a bit, Bo and I follow a bit - the bear looks back - I stop - Bo's tugging on the leash like he's about to meet his new best friend. The 'dance' continues for a good 1/8 of mile AND then I realize the 40ft gap between us is narrowing. DAYAM, where's the bear paparazzi.
And finally, they show up. Snapping pictures, clicks, flashes and all. The bear slinks over the side of the mtn and we're saved. I walk quickly to our saviors. Who never realize Bo and I were 30ft up the mtn road whilst shooting their pictures. Thank them for coming by and we walk happily down the mtn after a few adorations of 'Oh, is that an Airedale - I haven't seen an Airedale since I was a youngster. Don't they hunt bear?'
(No, I say to myself from firsthand experience. )
This time I forewent letting Bo smell the "track" and made it back down the mtn with all the composure I could muster.
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1 comment:
Wow!! that's a bear story. You must have been terrified or in shock.
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