On our recent trip to the cabin, the air was abuzz with bears and rumors of bears; one man spied the bear at the salt lick across the lake, another spotted him at dusk circling the small pond. In my imagination, the bear looked something like this.
(Not OUR Actual Bear)
We kept a watchful eye on the wiener dog…especially around dark-thirty. Don’t think she would even make a good hor d’oeuvre for a bear but I’d rather not find out. We didn’t hang up our hummingbird feeders. Didn’t care to provide a bear with a sweet evening cocktail.
This next photo proves we are determined, brave mountain walkers. In your face, bear!!! You ain’t stopping hardy Texas stock from stompin’ in the woods and takin’ in the sights. Walking in the cool mountain air is the best, isn’t it?
The eagle-eyed Sprout was first to see this next prize. She quietly motioned me over for the photo.
You probably won’t believe this, but he seemed almost tame. I think he would have eaten out of our hands had we offered. Weird. The effects of global warming, no doubt.
We had hiked a long way and our feet were tired: time to head back. Little did we realize what horror awaited us. I’m sorry to have to show you this next picture. I’d like nothing more than to tell you we skipped home and gaily ate S’mores and milk and talked about our perfect day of capturing unbelievable images of rare animals on film. But no, Marlin Perkins, that is not how this day ended!
Making our way back, we came upon the site where I had earlier happily snapped the Giant Striped Slinky Finch. Steady yourself….for I am about to show you…..the utter bloody massacre we unwittingly stumbled upon. Behold the finch carnage.
You are absolutely correct. You REALLY are Marlin Perkins!! Bear scat (or poo, or turds, or doo-doo, or baby ruths)!! ‘Crap…the bear’s been here!’, I screamed.
Well…… fellow Jack Hannahs and Steve Irwins……. that’s how this day ended. I don’t have absolute proof. Nobody saw anything but there’s one less gorgeous Giant Striped Slinky Finch gracing the mountains. Next time we’re out walking, the bear better hope he doesn’t run into me! This chick don’t take kindly to brazen attacks on an innocent, rare bird.