As the frogs croaked their mating calls into the crisp spring air, I sat in the lotus position contemplating the snow-capped Sierras during my daily meditation. I thought how lucky I am to live in the Tahoe National Forest with all this wildlife and scenery - a respite so many drive hours to - just to escape the strip malls and exhaust fumes for a weekend. Yet I live just ten minutes from some of the most breathtaking views with hiking, kayaking and snow-shoeing adventures right outside my door.
But in the back of my mind was an incessant and insistent image of a bear. I thought it was probably due to the fact that my first stop was littered with bear tracks and bear feces. I had wisely decided to drive a little farther up the road where I was fairly certain we would not encounter any bears.
As I returned to my truck with my two dogs, I felt a peace and calm that only comes to me right after a meditation. Everything was right in my world. Heading back home on our mountain road in broad daylight, it never occurred to me that any wildlife might run in front of me. But there he was. A medium sized California Black Bear appeared at the side of the road and before I knew it my truck pulled alongside him. I began applying the brakes and to my astonishment the bear began running with my truck. It reminded me of a dog chasing a car. Before I could think past that thought, the bear darted in front of my right front tire. I couldn't believe it.
My concern and dismay for the bear was quickly replaced with fear for my own safety and that of my two loyal companions in the back of my truck. As my tire rolled over the body of the bear, I felt a sickening sensation combined with terror. The bear seemed enormous as my truck rocked violently from side to side. I hung onto my steering wheel for dear life for what seemed like an eternity. When I finally came to a stop, the bear was gone and I collapsed into hysterical tears. The road told the sad tale in about a hundred feet of skid marks and just three small tufts of bear hair.
I will never know if the bear lived or died. He ran off never to be seen again. But I felt compelled to make some type of amends to the universe even if I couldn't help this particular bear. So I when I got home, I asked my friends for advice and my friend Beth Crittenden over at
OneTaste suggested I
make a donation to P.A.W.S. in Sacramento. For just $125 I adopted a California Black Bear by the name of
Arthur who coincidentally was hit by a car too and has one bum leg. I am going to visit Arthur on December 6 which is P.A.W.S. next open house.
So there you have it. Sometimes we can't avoid creating destruction and pain but there is always something we can do to help others. Oh and I decided to stop going the speed limit up here in the bears' backyard. It's not like they can move higher up the mountain to avoid motor vehicles. So I think it only considerate to treat their neighborhood like my own. We drive 35mph in my little community and that seems an appropriate speed for the bears' neighborhood too.
