Bear Aware
I truly am inspired by nature and all it has to offer. From the peaceful silence, changes of seasons, magnitude of force Mother Earth can display her strength in volcanoes, fires to floods, delicate flowers and the life in animals ( from tiny mice to majestic bears).
This Winter the presence of Bald Eagles in our Gorge and now the bear coming out of hibernation. Nature lifts the heart and spirit to take in all it has to offer and explore. Yesterday I just wrote about being aware of your natural surroundings, watching for wildlife and respecting it. The multiple sightings and visits of the bears out by me have awakened my spirit. Bears have always been of keen interest and caught my heart, I thought I would share the facts, mythology and spirituality of bears.
There are eight species of bears that roam the Earth, North American black, brown, polar, Asiatic black, Andean, Panda, Sloth and Sun bear. Bears may enter camps or your cottage or home, especially when wild foods are scarce, but they rarely attack people. Bears usually retreat before people are aware of them. Their hearing is more sensitive than a human’s, and their broad, soft foot pads allow them to move quietly downwind where they can best identify their dangers. They may stand upright to see farther (not a sign of aggressiveness). If need be, they can run faster than 25 mph or climb trees quickly. Unlike grizzly bear mothers, black bear mothers seldom attack people in defense of cubs. Black bear mothers typically bluff or retreat. Researchers who routinely capture cubs by chasing them up trees have not been attacked even when they have held the screaming cubs. The ferocity of mother black bears is one of the biggest misconceptions about this species.
Bears are at the top of the food chain, there are no predators that will mess with the bear, other than other bears. The male bears will eat the cubs, Brown bears will fight with other bears for food. Predators will try to get the cubs from wolves, coyotes to cougars. But humans are the biggest predator to bears. When angry they will growl, pound their paws on the ground and charge towards whatever is bothering them. They may not attack…but they probably wouldn’t have to after a show like that.
The bear Mother bears are affectionate, protective, devoted, strict, sensitive and attentive with their young. Not unlike people, bears can be empathetic, fearful, joyful, playful, social and even altruistic. They're all individuals and have unique personalities. They do travel alone if they do not have cubs, the bear can be a loner. Bears are solitary by nature, except when in family groups of mothers and cubs or in pairs during the mating season. Bears may congregate in areas of high food density, such as oak stands, berry patches, or farm fields.
In the kingdom of spirit animals, the bear is emblematic of grounding forces and strength. This animal has been worshiped throughout time as a powerful totem, inspiring those who need it the courage to stand up against adversity. The primary meaning of the bear spirit animal is strength, courage and confidence Standing against adversity; taking action and leadership. The spirit of the the bear indicates it’s time for healing or using healing abilities to help self or others The bear medicine emphasizes the importance of solitude, quiet time, rest The spirit of the bear provides strong grounding forces.
From cartoon representation of Yogi and Baloo, to the Hollywood version of aggressiveness in the Grizzly; the bear is an icon of confidence, strength and top of its game. So if encountered in the wild, be respectful of its earned reputation, give the bear the distance and understanding it so deserves. And by all means, don't go out there with bacon in your pockets.
