Short Story: Angry Bears

Short Story: Angry Bears

“Honey, did you remember the hotdogs?”

Kristine pointed back with her thumb. “They’re in the cooler with the Pepsi.”

Four girls, aged from three to nine, with the same red ponytail sat on the backseat of a 1984 Chevy Caprice. The two by the windows were the oldest, and the two younger ones shared a seatbelt in the center.

The oldest kicked the driver’s seat. “Daddy, how long does it take?”

“Just half an hour. You know the campground, Sweetie, the one where your Uncle Karl met his girlfriend.”

Black bears inhabit a vast area of North America, making it unlikely that you will ever come across one. To increase your odds of spotting a bear in the wild, visit a National Park where bears are protected.

With both hands clenched on the steering wheel and his squinting face leaning towards the side view mirror, Jack reversed the Capris down the gravel driveway. “I was thinking with the weather so fine today, why not head over to Yosemite?”

Kristine nodded, fiddling with the radio dial. Jack peered into the rearview mirror. “How does that sound, kids?”

“Are there g-raffes at Yo-sevendy?” the five year old asked.

The youngest clapped.

The brakes squeaked and Jack shifted into drive. “No giraffes, but you might see a deer, and maybe even a bear…Grrrrrr!”

An adult black bear can grow to over 300 pounds, but that does not mean they are easy to spot. Drive slowly, and keep your eyes focused along the tree line.

“Dad, I’m hungry. Can’t we go faster?” the oldest asked.

“The park ranger said…” Jack turned to his wife, “What are women rangers called?”

Kristine shrugged her shoulders.

He pulled over to the side of the road and twisted his neck to face the backseat. “This is the stretch that the lady ranger said we might see a few deer. We’ll have lunch in…”

“Daddy! Daddy!” the seven year old screamed. “What’s that?”

Jack gazed out Kristine’s window. Partially hidden in the tall weeds, thirty meters from the car, a brown-furred black bear approached, stopping every few steps to point its nose in the air and sniff.

In the wild, it can be difficult to distinguish between some mammals. Binoculars can play a key role in animal identification.

“It’s a mule deer, Sweetie, a female one.” He turned the ignition off and looked at his wife. “Hand me the camera, quick.”

Kristine opened the glove compartment and took out an old Kodak 35mm camera.

“You guys wait here. Fingers crossed it doesn’t run off.” Jack slowly opened his door and stepped out. Crouching down, he crept along the driver’s side to the rear of the car, unlocked the trunk, and slid open the cooler. He grabbed a bag of hotdog buns.

Contrary to popular belief, black bears are docile creatures. But as with all wild animals, be cautious, and never provoke them.

Jack held the camera to his one open eye, and waved a hotdog bun in the air. He whispered to himself, “Come on, just a little bit closer.”

When the bear was within ten meters, the car horn blared. Jack took his eye off the camera and spun around to see his wife pulling their eldest daughter away from the steering wheel.

The bear roared, swinging its head in the air and revealing its teeth.

When you are certain you have identified a -

“Bear!!!”

- black bear, and you are in a situation where you feel threatened by its behavior, it is essential to stay calm and slowly back away.

Jack threw the camera and the bun at the bear and dashed to the car. He jumped in, locked the doors, and started the ignition.

Before he hit the gas, the rear of the car suddenly sunk and then bounced as the bear climbed into the spacious trunk of the Capris. The girls stood up on the backseat and peered through the crack. The five year old yelled in exuberance, “Daddy, I see a bear!”

While many wild animals appear friendly, and are especially appealing to children, it is dangerous and illegal to remove any animal from a National Park.

Jack stared wide-eyed at Kristine, and then shifted into drive. “Sit down girls and put your seatbelts on. Now!”

Kristine clenched the door handle. “Jack, what’re you…where’re we going?!”

If you have any questions, please ask one of our licensed park rangers. Thank you and enjoy your visit to Yosemite National Park.

Jack whipped around the corner, tires screeching, into the parking lot of the main ranger station. He drove in circles, not letting up on the gas. He cranked down his window. “Ranger! Help! Lady Ranger!”