Robbin and Chris's Alaska

Hi Everyone,

    I hear that there is a resurgence in the bear population on the east coast.  Well you folks are lucky, I am now an expert on how to deal with bears.  So I'll share my expertise, right after I tell you how I earned it.
    When Chris was in Fairbanks trying to get a job (which he did get by the way) I ran the Bed and Breakfast by myself.  One morning after breakfast I was taking out the compost, when I rounded the corner with my bucket full of food, who should be standing on my compost pile but a juvenile black bear.  She was only 10 feet away from me.  Now I've never thought of myself as a particularly frightening person, but that bear got a look of pure horror on her face and crashed through the fence, headed toward the river, while I made a hasty and panicked retreat.  This is exactly what you're not supposed to do.  That was an exciting morning, but just my first solo bear encounter.
    That is always the case it seems, no one is around when I see bears.  One day I was reading a book on the sofa when a full grown bear stood up and peered through the window.  I must not have been very scary that day, because he didn't run from me.  It felt like I was in the zoo and the bears were coming to watch me.  He ambled around the house and looked in tow more windows, smearing his nose all over one.  He was pretty dirty and I know because I got right down and looked through the glass at him.  Eventually I went out on the front porch and beat on things and yelled until he ran away.  I didn't want anyone to come up on him unawares.  I got pictures that time, unfortunately the battering in my camera were not working so the pictures didn't come out.
    I've seen other bears since then, but always in the distance and never in my yard.  I guess they're not so bad as long as they're terrified of me.
    Here is what the forest service says about dealing with bears:  "Take a calm, assured posture.  A firm voice and gradual departure are better than panicked retreat.  As a  last resort, lie face down, protect your neck and don't move.  Resistance is futile.  However, if the bear continues to attack you after you lay still, you are food, fight back vigorously."  That's what they say.  If the bear gnaws your arm off and won't stop, then you should fight back.  Great advice.  In my vast experience they are more frightened of me that I am of them.  So just let them know you're a person by talking to them and back up out of their vision.  If they haven't run off already, they should soon forget about you.  Of course if they follow you, use the forest service course of action.

The Robbin and Chris Future Home Update
    Just for everyone's general information, in September Chris and I will be moving to Sleetmute, a small village of 130 people.  Chris is the junior high and high school teacher, all grades, all the subjects in one room.  There is even a house for us to rent.  Of course the windows are busted out, there is not heat and the roof leaks, but we won't be living in the school.  At least the village is loud enough to scare the bears away.  Wouldn't that be fun, curious bears crawling though the windows.,  Someone is supposed to fix some of the things before we get there, but I'll most likely hove to take up carpentry to make the house livable by winter.  (Anyone want to volunteer to visit?  we're looking for experienced carpenters, or anyone who can hit a nail will do.)  But all that information is for the next letter.  Have a good rest of your summer.

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