From The High Plains of New Mexico

This true story is a follow- up to the book review of 'A Walk in the Woods,' that published Feb. 14, page 4.

Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

 Bears

She wasn’t worried. Bears stay in the mountains and avoid humans, right?

Nancy was in her mid-60's, but figured she knew all about living in rural settings.

Her folks had uprooted the family every few years in their ongoing search for 'greener pastures.'

She grew up living in small villages or on farms.

Moving to northern New Mexico was nothing new.

She retired and bought a 1920's bungalow in a small town; it seemed like a good way to break the pattern of moving from state to state.

New friends

Susan was one of the first people Nancy met after settling into her new home. Susan lives one block closer to Main Street in a Victorian mansion that had been converted into a B&B.

She regaled Nancy with tales of life on her family’s cattle ranch just east of town. Bears were not an issue near the buildings. Hunting trips into the nearby mountains offered opportunities to spot the native black bear. Susan explained that some adult males can reach 400 pounds but usually weigh around 250. Females are smaller, about 180-200 pounds.

“I was taking out the kitchen trash early one morning and thinking about my grocery list,” Susan said describing her first bear encounter in town.

“I looked down the alley and there was a large bear opening the dumpster.'

She quietly retreated walking backwards and hoping not to stumble.

Susan now takes her garbage out during the middle of the day.

Amelia, who lives across town, recalled a trip to the local farmer’s market. She goes every Tuesday during the summer to stock up on fresh fruits and veggies. One day Amelia had filled the backseat of her car with bags of produce, returned home, parked in her usual spot on the street, and promptly unloaded her bags.

She failed to notice that one slippery plastic bag had slid off the seat onto the floor. It held two very ripe cantaloupes.

The next morning Amelia discovered a smashed passenger window, shredded upholstery, and the empty plastic bag. The car was redolent with the scent of an angry bear searching for an escape route.

Still Nancy wasn’t worried – she took her trash out around noon and emptied her car immediately after returning home.

Neighbors

The retired couple, who live next door, fenced their large yard hoping to protect their vegetable garden and fruit trees. Luke expressed their frustration when this failed to deter the wildlife.

“I looked out one night and there was a bear helping himself to the apples. The raccoons are worse because they go after our tomatoes,” he said.

George and his family live across the street.

“There was one full grown bear that just would not leave the hummingbird feeder alone,” recalled George.

“I moved the feeder to our fenced backyard. And one evening I looked out the west window and there was the bear climbing the oak tree - heading for the feeder. I got my rifle and sent him on to bear heaven.”

Nancy politely smiled in response.

She didn't ask how he dealt with the carcass.

Feeling safe

Lots of charming stories about wildlife thought Nancy sitting on her front porch sipping coffee one summer morning.

A deer-proof wooden fence encloses her backyard. She figured it would discourage any bear that might be tempted to raid the large apple tree behind her house. Nancy believed that any hungry critters would be more attracted to her neighbor’s fruit trees.

Close encounter

Opening her living room drapes early one October morning she spotted a half-grown bear standing on her porch eyeing the crab apple tree in her front yard.

The bear, who was less than six feet away, slowly turned and gazed at Nancy.

Paralyzed by fear Nancy did not move until the bear ambled across the street toward George's house.

Sidebars:

A Walk in the Woods 'My particular dread— the vivid possibility that left me staring at tree shadows on the bedroom ceiling night after night—was having to lie in a small tent, alone in an inky wilderness, listening to a foraging bear outside and wondering what its intentions were,' explained author Bill Bryson as he contemplated hiking the Appalachian Trail in 1996.

'A Walk in the Woods' is Bryson's humorous account of his experiences on the Appalachian Trail.

Hank

A 500-pound black bear, known as Hank the Tank, was the source of more than 150 calls last year in one small community, according to California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials.

Hank caused extensive damage by forcefully entering occupied homes and vacant houses in the Tahoe Keys area searching for food. Owners of 38 different properties identified Hank as the perpetrator.

Ursine advocates recommended relocating Hank to a Colorado wildlife sanctuary instead of euthanasia.

A black bear cannot be imported into the state without the required permits according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations. Officials acknowledged that in recent years entry applications for wild-born bears have been denied.