In level spots where it was smooth, the road was a perfect medium for animal tracks. The unmistakable imprints of a bear's paws. That means around 200 pounds, roughly my size if I dropped 25. There were no small tracks nearby, which was some relief. I wanted to see my first Western Virginia bear, but not at the expense of also crossing paths with her cubs.
Mamas get pretty paranoid with little ones nearby.
We looked around for a few minutes then headed up the hill, never to spy the bear on that afternoon. But we did catch her tracks here and there, a small thrill. December's cold nights must have slowed her blood, and the woods' wild critters had nearly picked the trails clean of this year's bumper acorn crop. With winter approaching, her food sources were almost gone. Soon, it would be time for her to turn in.