An Orphan Bear Cub
A few weeks ago I took my wife for a walk up the mountain. Its a place I visit often, but it was the first time anyone in my family had seen it. Shortly after arriving on top of the mountain, I heard a large animal coming down a tree quickly. I assumed I had spooked something, but as this bear cub appeared in the foliage I realized there was another explanation. The little guy was so intent on a hornets nest, it didn’t seem to even notice me. I quietly got my wife’s attention and we sat down to watch. The whole time we watched I listened intently to try to figure out where his mom was. We watched for a half hour as the little guy tried desperately to get at the larva in the hornets nest. At one point when he reached as far as he could it seemed to me his arm looked thin and I began to worry that maybe he was an orphan. That fact haunts me still. After a half hour he came over to where we were sitting and I spoke quietly to him before he came into sight, fearing that if he didn’t know we were there and cried out that my wife might be hurt. He stopped and we got up and left. All my life I have hoped for an opportunity like this. I will always regret having had to ask him to stop.
