This young bear has been in the neighborhood near the Grand Marais Art Colony for two to three weeks. He/she is terribly cute but he/she has gotten into quite a bit of mischief, especially tearing into people’s garbage. While the bear doesn’t seem much bothered by people, people should be aware that bears—even ones that seem friendly—are wild animals and if provoked or scared, can hurt someone or worse. Therefore, stay clear when the bear comes near. It shouldn’t be long before he/she finds a place to hibernate and then the folks in town can rest as well as the bear. Staff photo/Brian Larsen
There is at least one town bear, and he/she is causing mischief everywhere.
Of course, there could be two, three, four, maybe even more, town bears on the prowl, looking for food at night, causing your (my) dog inside to howl.
The yearling I have seen is endearing, seemingly unafraid of people. One morning it ate grass in my yard as my 26-year-old daughter stepped outside, watching it from about five feet away. The bear munched and crunched for about a minute before sauntering into the new dawning day. It has gotten into people’s trash, stole sweet and sour apples from trees, dug up gardens, lounged around in a high red pine, and slept soundly on a deck using a pumpkin as a pillow. It even came to the newspaper office, took a garbage bag from a covered canister, hauled it into the alley and spread a big mess all down the alley.
So while some think he/ she is sweet, I must confess, ‘Au contraire, that’s one naughty bear!’
Two weeks ago, a cook from Birch Terrace was walking home in the dark and almost got run over by a bear. She uses a flashlight now on her short walk home. I’m not sure if it is to scare the bear or beat it on the noggin, but the flashlight makes her feel better.
As for you, please beware of the town bear. He/she is certainly cute, but a bear’s a bear and if alarmed, a fight with you would not be fair. So stay away, stay far away from the rolly polly nonchalant town bear.
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