Bearfoots Bears
When Michael Allen were married on Whistler Mountain four bears appeared at the wedding.
“They are always where I am,” shrugs Allen, 37 years old British Columbia native whose broad face and stocky reminiscent of the animal that has been his obsession ever. And no, these four bears do not come and stand on the side of the groom for the wedding photo. “They just grazed nearby.”
These days Michael is known as the man relate to Whistler, in addition to being the leading North American ski resort, is also in the heart of black bear country. About 300 black bears live in the region. Between June and October Michael runs bear viewing tours in the early morning and dusk. In this very warm evening in late summer July, our group of five travelers to join him in a bumpy ride through the powdery ski slopes Summer mountain where the average bear like to graze at dusk.
“Cometh the hour, the man will come.” There are fourteen years, Michael Allen 41, a resident of Trail, British Columbia, came to Whistler with a request to consider the station of the bear. Describing himself as solitary with little interest in formal science education, Allen felt a kinship with the bears since the age of 12 years.
“I could not get why everyone was so afraid of them. At first I was nervous, but the fascination outweighed on fear. I went out and my mom dragged me back. She quickly realized that I was probably safer with the bears than playing with other children in the local pool hall. ”
Suddenly the evening cools, the bears begin to emerge. We first saw a yearling – a year old bear – on the edge forest, then into a meadow of purple lupine and scarlet Indian paint-brush, Michael acknowledges that he has bear named Daisy, a very shy and rarely seen mother with her little cub. Soon Daisy becomes suspicious and disappears into the undergrowth.
Back in the jeep, Michael negotiates vertiginous descents as he told of seeing a yearling asleep on a machine back to the ski resort of coke and another bear sprawled across a chair lift.
“Ah, there it is, there is Jeanie,” he said suddenly as we stopped near the top of Olympic ski pistes and see less of a hundred yards away, a brownish black bear and her two cubs ambling across the slope. Michael has known John since his arrival in Whistler. It was named after his Scottish grandmother, has obvious deep affection for her, describing her as one of “most smartest, most adaptable bears. “J eanie has recently been away from the attentions of Slim, a male bear that wants to mate with her. But a bear females with cubs is physically incapable of mating so Slim has twice tried to kill her young. “It is a beautiful bear – a little Brad Pitt males here – but very aggressive, “said Michael.” He is not real keen on me. He struck me at the back of the head recently with his paw so I knocked on the head with a newspaper. ”
Tonight, Jeanie grazes peacefully with her cubs. We go out and follow Michae, a little nervous. Mothers with cubs are notoriously aggressive, but not, apparently, if they know Michael. He whispers softly to her, as we follow the mountain trail. She allows us to obtain some fifty yards, she and her cubs, then wanders through the dark forest.
Janette Griffiths is an award-winning travel writer, novelist and broadcaster. She divides her time between Vancouver, London and Paris. She is currently adapting her novel The Singing House – set in the high romantic world of Wagnerian opera – to the screen.
(http://janettegriffithscanada.blogspot.com)
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Bearfoots Bear Climbing Bear Fan Pull $7.00 2.5″H Bearfoots Bear is climbing the chain on this fun fan pull! 10″ chain included. From Big Sky Carvers Bearfoots Bear Collection by Jeff Fleming. Hand cast…. |
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Bearfoot Bears Key Holder $21.00 These adorable bearfoots will keep your keys handy…and safe!… |
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Big Sky Carvers Bearfoots Rockin Bears Mommy and Baby Bear Figurine $21.00 Bearfoots Mommy Bear is made of fine-cast resin from originals by Jeff Fleming. Measures 4 in. long x 6 in. high. * Great gift for people who love the outdoors. Poem included with bear quotes “Gentle rocking and sweet lulluby, will comfort baby till morning is nigh…. |
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Bearfoots Bears Relaxed Bear Double Switch Plate Cover $15.00 2009 handcast resin double switch plate cover with a relaxing Bearfoots Bear resting in the corner. Fits a standard double switch. Comes with 4 screws for mounting. 5 1/2 inches long and 4 3/4 inches high…. |
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Bearfoot Bear Outlet Cover What better way to shed light on things than with a Bearfoot Bear Outlet Cover?… |
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Koleman, Grand Bearfoots Bear with Lantern $157.50 Koleman Grand Series Bearfoots Bear from Jeff Fleming and Big Sky Carvers. 9.75L X 10.5W X 25H. This grand bear will help you see the light! Great for entryway or covered porch areas…. |
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Black Bear Toilet Bowl Holder $24.99 You know you need a place to store your toilet brush, so why not make it a little more “bearable”? This amusing toilet brush holder is cleverly disguised as a watchful Black Bear taking a break. The perfect accent for your lodge-themed home. The holder is made finely detailed hand-painted resin |
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The Ganz Cottage 12 Dr. Bearfoot Bear $20.00 Dr. Bearfoot is a 12″ doctor bear and comes complete with his green scrubs and stethoscope…. |
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15 Teddy Bear-foot & Pregnant Teddy Bear Send a Vermont Teddy Bear. Free gift card and gourmet candy with every order! Every Bear is delivered with FREE personalized gift card and gourmet candy. Vermont Teddy Bear – Any mom-to-be dealing with those middle-of-the-night cravings will get a “kick” out of this Bear. Carrying a two-scoop ice cream cone complete with a pickle on top, she wears boot-cut maternity jeans with prego tummy, a scrun… |
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Big Sky Mini Plush Ladybug Bear Part of the “Bear Foots” line by Montana artist Jeff Fleming, this adorable little plush bear comes with an ID tag that reads, “Love Instructions: Let him ride in the front seat. Do not feed anything but bear food. Let him sleep in a comfy room (or he’ll growl all night). Don’t let younger sibling chew on his ears (it will hurt him!) And finally, give him plenty of Lovin.” This makes the perfect g… |
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Tags: animals, bearfoots, bearfoots bears by jeff fleming, gifts, stuffed, TeddyBears
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Image: Signs in Yosemite Warn About Bears Seeking Food in Cars, via Flickr It was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that led to the demise of Ben Story’s car. A hungry bear managed to get into the car looking for the morsel Ben left on the back seat. Somehow, the bear knocked the car into neutral; it rolled backwards downhill, into a thicket, slamming the door closed and trapping the bear in the process. The bear is OK. The car is a mess….Read the full story on TreeHugger