Sharon’s rescued bunnies, Kanga and Bunces, alerted her to a bear in her home. What!
“The black bear was an uninvited house guest”, said Sharon. “He scared the pellets out of my rabbits and almost me!”
“I was in the back room when the bunnies began wildly and urgently thumping, so I went into the kitchen to investigate.
A bear as tall as my refrigerator stared at me. I dialed 911, but after hearing my insane rambling about ‘bunnies and a bear’, they thought I was a prank caller and hung up!
After more staring, I slowly backed up to the back door, watching her every move, and propped open the door creating an escape route. It partially worked. The bear walked back and forth between the living room and back porch for 40 minutes then sat down on my living room carpet as if she was waiting for me to set out her picnic. We continued staring at each other as I wondered why she did not eat the cats’ or rabbit’s food, the hiding free-roving rabbits, or me!
I thought, ‘Where’s my camera? Nobody is going to believe this,’ but instead I redialed 911 and spoke less hiss-terical. This time, they took me seriously and told me to ‘Get out’. I said ‘I can't. I’m afraid for the rabbits.' Seriously, how could I have really protected them! I told the operator that the bear was not threatening, just curious and not to shoot her.’
The entire time, I was uneasy but never scared. This bear meant no harm and I am sure she sensed I meant her no harm. When the police showed up, so did EVERYONE else; two police departments and the fire department. I went outside to meet them and reiterated, ‘DO NOT SHOOT THIS ANIMAL.’
A firefighter went inside, and I trailed in behind him. The police went around to the back of the house. The fireman shone a flashlight in her direction (she was still sitting on the carpet). It startled her and she ran out the door, down the steps, past the police, and into the woods.
The game commissioner phoned after everything was settled and said, ‘If the bear was bold enough to enter your home, it could enter someone else's and give them a heart attack. Not everyone is as ‘cool’ as you are.’
That winter, I saw her huge paw marks in the snow. I took a picture of my hand next to her massive paw prints. Beside her prints were three sets of little paw prints. She was a Mama bear.
Years later, on the day I was moving out of the house was the only other time I saw her. She was near the edge of the property. A beautiful, magnificent animal. I spoke to her with tears in my eyes. She stopped, turned, and looked at me and then quietly ambled into the woods. We had said, ‘Goodbye’ to each other. I ran inside the house to the man helping me move and excitedly said, ‘Get out here! The bear is here!’. He was not a bit brave, he said, ‘No way,’ and refused to come out.
I’m glad he was not here to protect me the day the bear came inside for her picnic!”
