Tuesday, June 13, 2006
BEARS IN THE BURBS
Wildlife is getting used to man and finding co-existence is not always out of the question. We regularly have hawks flying in the neighborhood, and every now and again there will be a pile of feathers in the grass where a bird met his fate.
On a recent visit to a local park, I happened to notice a raccoon walking along the road. We parked the car and got out to see him up close. First he went up a tree, then came back down, apparently thinking we might have food. When he condluded we didn't he went back up the tree.
A relative who lives in the Cleveland suburbs frequently sees deer in her backyard. One of them gave birth in her neighbors foundation shrubbery. The neighbors have all been enjoying the fawn as it wanders around. When one neighbor spots it, the telephone alert system goes into action.
A recent newcomer to the Cleveland neighborhoods, though, is not especially welcome. The black bear that mauled a woman in Ashtabula County has found his way into Gates Mills, where some wealthy Clevelanders have their estates. That suburb is near my mother-in-law's house, so the article at NewsNet5 got my attention.
Apparently Cleveland is not unique in black furry visitors. In New Jersey a 15-pound tabby cat taught another black bear who is king of the backyard by hissing the bear up a tree. Twice. If you're black and furry, don't mess with Jack the attack cat.
Now if I could just borrow Jack for a chipmunk raid, my flowers might have a chance to bloom without having their roots turned into a varmint tunnel.
