We live on the outside edge of our city and are surrounded by sage brush, grass, sand and wild animals. We have seen coyotes, deer, owls, snakes, woodpecker and bears. Our place is like a zoo in the desert. Not the safes place for some. Just ask our 1year old cat who got taken by a very large owl who we found hovering over our place the next night. Maybe the owl thought that since the cat has nine lives he could have nine dinners.

Today at 6:00pm after a nice chicken BBQ I was outside putting a few things away when I saw brown bear waddle past our backyard. By time I ran in to grab my camera he had already wondered up and into a neighbor's yard. It grabbed a bag of garbage and carried it up the hill and sat down behind some sage brush to eat dinner. Several of our neighbors gathered outside and we watch the bear for several minutes chow down on some old left overs.

What makes me curious is how a sharp clawed, big toothed, garbage eating animal becomes a little innocent child's stuffed toy. The bear that makes grown men quiver in fear is the comfort of a scared child. However the bear does it is beyond me but as long as they keep posing for my pictures I am a happy man.

~ Orlund ~