The herald., 1898-12-11
BEARS NATURALLY PEACEABLE
Are Mischievous but Not Dangerous
Unless Attacked

| can verify the statement of Mr.. Hardy
of how bears eat berries and, indeed, feed in
other ways. Stories of bears are current
talk in the backwoods, and the old residents
have learned good deal OF their habits in
this way. Often in the then very thinly set
tied North Michigan woods / have accom-
panied my wife on her berry gathering ex-
cursions, fearing to let her go alone on ac-
count of the numerous bears which shared
the enormous quantities of the finest ber
ries which grew in the wndfalls. Once when
thus engaged at one side of gigantic pine
which lay over breast high. we heard sort
of scuffling on the other side of it. amid the
dense growth of backberries Thinking
some other person was on the same business
as we were, no notice was taken, but all OF
us, bear as well. as we found afterward,
went along the fallen pine tree until we came
near to the top of it, when, looking up, both
of us saw at the same instant the head of
huge bear, as it showed itself by its head
being far above the level of ours.
The bear saw lis at the same instant and
stopped eating, with an armful of bushes
gathered between its forelegs. We did not
move. but stood quite still, and very soon
the bear went on with its meal, picking off
the fruit with its mouth. We, of course,
gently backed out of the bushes and left the
bear still feeding without any offensive
movements.
After that. and with some other experience
that bears are by no means quarrelsome it
not disturbed or driven to resistance, or even
disposed to fight when attacked, but rather
inclined to get away, even the women and
children of the locality We're not alarmed,
further than to get away in the easiest man.
ner and leave the field to the big, black,
shaggy fellows. In fact, this animal seems
to be in no way quarrelsome, ii he is per-
mitted to get his share of what is lying
around, and is only dangerous when at
tackled and brought to bay.
Bears often amuse themselves in the
woods by breaking trees. When camping
out on exploring expeditions or on surveys,
| have heard the bears at night breaking
down the limbs of quite small trees, appar-
entity for amusement, and they are quite
fond OF tearing the bark from trees, appar-
entity for the same reason, or otherwise TO
get at the sweet underbark, which is doubt
less what they are after. In fact, they are
playful animals, and when seen without
them knowing it they will play and romp to-
gether as a lot of boys will, wrestling with
each other and chasing each other in
rough sort of game. which is very amusing
when their inotfensive habits have be-
come known. But few people care to get
too closely acquainted with them.
They are exceedingly mischievous and play
havoc with ones camp and blankets, which
they will tear into strips-in fact, completely
wrecking the outfit. Once, on going to
camp which had been left for some days.
we found on returning to it big bear in a
most ludicrous mess. An old butter firkn
had been left outside the camp, of course
having some leavings of butter in it. Near
ing the camp, we heard a noisy sort of scuf
fling, and at once thought of bears. Coming
near the camp, there was bear on his hind
legs, dancing around in such manner as to
throw my Canadian-French foreman in a
helpless condition of imbecility and help
lessness.
He pranced and howled and rolled on the
ground. The bear had its head fast in the
keg, and was paving for all it was worth to
get its head loose. 1t rolled on the ground
along with Francois, who might have got
into trouble had the infuriated bear got its
head free. But it was not until the bear
ran against a tree and knocked the slaves
loose that it could see what was the matter
Then it made off with the hoops around its
neck into the woods and was lost to sight.
Francois did not quite recover for long
of laughter when at serious business when
anything recalled this adventure with the
bear.-Forest and Stream.