Oh no… Covid-19 brings new neighbours!!

This is not a long rant. In fact, I think I will set aside ranting for the moment to tell you of our newest neighbour. Haven’t actually got to meet the fellow (I’m assuming a male because he’s not neat), but evidence was all around this morning when I went out on an errand – actually I was going out first to take out some garbage and re-cycling for the big bins by the house before going to another up-the-street neighbour’s to help his on a more prosaic issue. The evidence – both the next-door neighbour’s and our garbage bins were laid down on their sides – and all around was strewn remnants of our garbage. Plastic bags ripped open. Contents more or less left on the walkway except the bits of food that had been wrapped seemed gone. I put the neighbour’s bin back because there wasn’t as much in theirs. But then I had to go put on Covid-blue-gloves and start retrieving all the remains.

Obviously there is a shortage of food up on the bluffs above our canyon what with the severe drought we have been experiencing since July. And obviously the smell of egg shells and the like are tempting. What the black bear didn’t count on were a number of burned out tea-candles and considerable amounts of other non-perishable junk. These were unceremoniously scattered without even a thank you but no thank you note.

Why do I even think this creature was a black bear? Well, for one thing not even a group of raccoons could work in tandem to get the garbage bins to fall as they are squeezed in beside the recycle and yard waste bins which are even bigger. Moreover, the tears in the plastic bag were big gashes. The kind that leave scars similar to those we see on the back of the Laird in Outlander which came from many lashes. Moreover, the stuff that wasn’t consumed or messed through was stomped on and squished…

I know that deer sometimes use the walkway between our house and the next-door neighbour’s and we have been considering installing motion lights to help scare them off. Now I have a more pressing thought – maybe such lights might well frighten Mr./Ms. Black Bear. And if not, then maybe it will give us some warning the creature is near and an alarm can be sent to the local Fish & Wildlife Authorities (or to another neighbour who has a bow & arrow he likes to use for target practice).

Anyway, that is the unexpected news for today!! Hope your day is a little less eventful – picking up strewn garbage is not something I wish on anyone, but especially you!!

As always,
g.w.