Every year around the first of June there’s a festival at our neighborhood community center. It’s called “Awakening of the Bears.” All the kids love it because they get to beat on drums, wave their arms, and make lots of noise. The purpose is three-fold. First, it teaches them what to do should they run into a bear, which is a not uncommon occurrence in these parts. Second, it serves as a reminder that this is the time of year such critters are waking up hungry from hibernation. Last but not least, there’s this enduring bit of wildlife wisdom: Bears would rather avoid than confront humans, so a human making noise on the trail serves as a deterrent to untoward bear encounters. (The one exception to all that, of course, is a mama bear with cubs. Cubs are naturally curious. Mama bears are naturally protective. So, word to the wise, best not to get between the two. All other rules go out the window if that happens.)
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Yesterday on my hike around South Rim I happened to wear my t-shirt advertising Awakening of the Bears. And indeed, yesterday I did see lots of bear scat on the trail. (Later in the season, bear scat is filled with small seeds and has a reddish tinge from a diet heavy with wild raspberries. But this early in the year, it’s mostly grasses with a greenish hue.)
Roxborough State Park opens at first light. By the beginning of June, that’s 5 AM, but most folks tend not be wide awake until a bit later in the day, so today I was first in the parking lot at 7AM. Being an early riser has advantages and disadvantages. One big advantage is that there are no other humans on the trail. One big disadvantage is… well, yeah, you guessed it. Rounding a bend about half way to the top, she was ambling toward me at about my speed, black as sin, and roughly my size. I can’t tell you how hungry she was, but she was definitely wide awake. Fact is, by that point, we both were.
Ursus americanus is notoriously near-sighted, as am I. But at ten paces there was no mistaking each other. I didn’t wait around to see if she had cubs in tow. Turning back, I went downhill the way I came, a bit faster than on my way up. And – I’m not ashamed to say – my heart rate was significantly elevated. Sorry, I have no pictures. You’ll just have to take my word for it. (Note to self: Get that can of bear spray at REI today – it’s 20% off at the Memorial Day sale. As an alternative, I guess I could get a drum? But that seems a little impractical for hiking.)
Never seen a bear in the wild. I did once see a mountain lion, who just ignored me and went on about his business. How about an air horn? Are they still available? And would bears be cautious of that noise? Glad you’re safe, buddy, if winded. Didn’t know you could run that fast, did you?