Black bears are a common thing around our area, and after living on this beautiful property for over two years, my husband, Paul finally saw what neighbours have been telling us to keep an eye out for.
As described to me, it was a full sized black bear, running along the ditch, perhaps trying to get away from the fast moving vehicle as the steady drone of the tires churned up way ward stones and pebbles, causing them to torpedo in every direction. It was just one, but for me, for anyone, one bear is enough to contend with.
We read a news paper article, at the time of us considering this place for purchase, about a man who was attacked by a black bear not far from here. This man was hospitalized and when the bear was found, it was determined it had rabies.
Another story, word of mouth from our neighbour who lives perhaps only five miles away, had his dog chase a black bear up a tree, two summers ago. And that same neighbour told us that every summer at least one momma bear and her two cubs travel our back fields, but they "don't stay" we are reassured... not.
Last night I was abruptly woken up, not by any noise, it was just one of those times where you just find yourself awake. I had fallen asleep while listening to the monitor and turned it off in my sleep, and decided to turn it back on.
I heard the oddest noise last night... a noise that I can't be sure how to describe it. In my mind I imagined that it could be all sorts of reasons concerning sasquatch, but shortly after I heard two distinct noises that showed me that not everything that goes bump in the night, or makes a sound in the darkness is in fact courtesy of our neighbourhood sasquatch.
It in fact was more likely the bear my husband had seen only 8 kilometers up the road a few days ago.
I heard on the monitor two distinct snorts or snuffles- like a pig, and I knew what it was... Saskatchewan does not have wild pig and we certainly do not farm any domestic pig, so when I woke up this morning, I confirmed what I heard with Paul.
Luckily we had not put out food for sasquatch, I haven't for a few days and certainly not now until this bear is gone!
Paul has had to contend with bear on many occassions. It isn't uncommon for one or two or three to come up to the garbage bin on an oil rig( paul's work) that is placed out in the middle of the deep forest and investigate. One even sent Paul running for safety, ( Oh the bear stories the guys have to tell... and oh yeah... there's even a sasquatch story... but I'll save that for another post)
In a totally different situation altogether, Paul was saved from a potential bear attack and this I'd like to share with you.
He was in the woods on a working camping trim with his brother and they had settled in thier tent for the night and were both sound asleep. ( I would have to say that the two men snoring would have brought in the bear alone... boy you men can certainly SNORE! haha)
Paul was literally shoved out of a deep sleep and actually thought it was his brother who shoved him, but as Paul sat up in his sleeping bag and saw the silhouette of the bear on the outside of the tent, he had no choice but to wake his brother who groggily told him that he was not the one who did any shoving.
Paul had been sleeping on his side and was literally shoved onto his front, it wasn't violent in nature just forceful enough to send him on his face, and when they spotted the bear, they shot two shells into the air and sent the bear scurring into the dark of the forest.
What was this unseen force that woke Paul up abruptly to ensure their safety? No one knows for certain, It defininetly wasn't sasquatch...but there is a song that can sum it up best.
"All night, all day, angels watching over me my Lord,
All night, all day, angels watching over me."
Happy camping...
