Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship by Tom Ryan is published by William Morrow. It tells the story of my adventures with Atticus M. Finch, a little dog of some distinction. You can also find our column in the NorthCountry News.

Monday, August 05, 2013

Our Afternoon Visitor

Twice today young bears visited us.  The first, a smaller one, was in the yard when we pulled in.  It watched us for a moment and then ran away.  This one, a bit bigger, was standing at the foot of our stairs when we came down them, it then flopped on the ground a few feet from us, and when I told it to leave and clapped my hands it climbed up on the rocks.  That made me laugh.  Atticus was sitting by my side watching and when I said, "Gentle but walk with me please," and took a couple of steps towards the young bear it ran away. 

It's not good to let bears get too comfortable around people because that's how they become a nuisance and are often put down.  So as much as I hate chasing them away, it's what we have to do.  Usually it's the younger ones that stick around.  Mature bears leave when they see us.
 


13 comments:

Unknown said...

Handsome little cubby!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful Photo's Tom! Thanks for sharing your afternoon special visitors! I have had the same hummingbird visit me on my deck three afternoons in a row!

Carter W Rae said...

I am continually amazed at the calmness of Atticus. He always is very composed and polite..

Kerina said...

They're beautiful and you're very lucky to see them so close naturally.

Betty and Lenny Fagen said...

Curious visitor ... we had a turtle check us out yesterday!

Enjoy the rest of this stunning day.

Betty & Lenny

Mary Stafford-Brown said...

Beautiful pics Tom. Thanks for sharing.

Annie Criscitiello said...

Such a wonderful gift in your beautiful mountain Paradise! Yes, it's too bad you have to chase these young ones away, but unlike gentle Atticus, the Peaceable Kingdom is not a reality yet and the lion (or wolf) has not laid down with the lamb.

LoriJK said...

Gotta teach those cubs their manners! ;)

Kristyl Adams said...

I think word may have gotten around the forest that there is a "little black bear" living in a red house nearby :)

Donna Jean said...

WOW, too cool, I hope we see some bears on the Following Atticus Gratitude Hike ... I'm so excited about following Atticus I just can't thank you enough. I am VERY Grateful & Humbled by this little guy choosing me. Big Love to you Atticus!!! And to Tom & Will also ;)

anonsue said...

You have much more courage than me! Glad I live near the shore. (No offense!)

Anonymous said...

Hi Tom, Atticus & Will,

Wow, great photos. No bears near us, just skunks in the early morning.

thanks again for sharing

Michelle said...

Beautiful photos, Tom! It's good that you allow the bears to be but urge them nicely to leave so that they don't become comfortable around humans.