I have another bear story for you. Apparently we have a very clever fellow in the area of West Shore Road. It is more or less by accident that what is thought to be a fairly young adult bear - like 2 years old - has found easy pickin's in people's garbage or trash. It's not unexpected to have trash scattered if it's left outside overnight, or sometimes during the daytime. It could be a bear, a raccoon or a neighborhood dog (like we had one Saturday afternoon a few weeks ago, just before pickup time) visiting. However a bear has been spotted several times in the West Shore Road area, so it's likely the culprit that has been causing such a mess and distress along West Shore Road recently.

Here's what's unusual about this guy (or girl). This one cleverly takes the lid off trash barrels, removes the plastic bag inside and carries it away (like behind Ned and Carolyn Hamilton's barn) before opening it to investigate the contents. Carolyn said it has happened a couple of times - the first time they never found the bag or where the bear took it, but more recently the bear got into their trash again because a door was not securely closed at night, and this time took it behind the barn to investigate it.

So the trash that was found in the woods beyond a parking area by the Drown and Somerville cottages could have been taken there by a clever bear and not some disrespectful person, as was suspected yesterday. Just saying.

So everyone, please pay close attention to how you dispose of your trash. Have it securely locked in a garage or other enclosure - trash cans are no problem for bears. And DO NOT put your trash out for pickup the night before. People who rent out their camps need to provide a secure place for your trash to be picked up from if your tenants aren't around on the day of pickup. Sometimes people leave on a Saturday or Sunday and trash isn't picked up for a day or so afterward. It just cannot be left beside the road that long! Figure out something with your trash hauler and instruct your renters accordingly. It would truly be a shame to have this young bear killed. He's hungry and we humans must be more careful about attracting him. He/she will have plenty to eat soon with berries, apples and nuts, but that said - bears also have a great memory when it comes to recalling where they got an easy free lunch, so even if the marauding ceases as fall approaches, come spring that bear will have an empty stomach - and total recall!