I’m all confused as usual. See I was out in the woods for a walk with Jean today and as we were making our way out of a shadowy bit a woman and a man were coming towards us. The woman was walking in front and so was I.
She was really well dressed compared to Jean who always wears the messiest clothes out on our walks. (I hope she doesn’t read this cos I don’t think she realises exactly how messy they are.) Anyway, the woman in the posh red outfit froze on the spot like she’d seen a ghost or worse than a ghost. I was so taken aback I skithered to a halt as well and just stared at her.
We were stuck in this stand-off for an age. There was absolute terror in her eyes and her face went so white I thought she was going drop down and, to tell the truth, the man didn’t look any great shakes either.
E V E N T U A L L Y, the woman said she was from British Columbia and that she thought I was a black bear cos British Columbia’s woods are full of black bears.
I mean can you believe it? Someone thinking a puppy with spaniel ears could be a black bear? I had to doogle British Columbia and Black Bears when I could get my paws on the computer. Here’s a photo that I found:
This guy scared the livin’ daylights out of me and then I read all about the bears in British Columbia here. Jeepers creepers, what I need to know now is how anyone could ever live there and how could a puppy like me go for walks in the woods if the place is crawling with monsters like these.
I’ve a feeling that the woman probably saw me as looking like this photo I found that Jean had marked as ‘Dud Stan.’
Oh and Belated Happy Canada Day to anybody from Canada who reads this. Doogle is a mine of information!!
All this has made me think of how we carry our fears around in us and turn situations all inside out and upside down.
I hope the lady in red has recovered and realises that Ireland is bear-free.
Talk soon,
Stanny.
P.S. I’m all upset cos Stan Wawrinka that I was called after lost in Wimbledon. See, he won the Australian Open the weekend before Jean got me so we follow him all the time.
SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland 
Some bears are very happy Stan:
I’ve been bopping around since you sent this, Paul. Jean is wondering what’s got into me!
😀 It does that to me too Stan!
Oh good! Let’s have another listen. S.
Ha! 🙂
Walk in the woods where there are little black bear cubs and the nearby mother (if she is startled by you) may directly and violently attack you. (See the movie Revenant if you want to see an example of what that kind of thing may be like.) People from areas with these creatures are programmed to react.
I like that word ‘programmed,’ Tom. My woman in red was certainly switched into some other mode when she saw my face bearing down on her.
I’ll be having nightmares for weeks after watching this, Tom. I’m never, ever even going to go to the zoo now. S.
It rarely happens. They only do this when with cubs and are startled; if you make a lot of noise ahead of time (alerting them of your presence) they take the cubs away and remain peaceful.
It’s too late, Tom. I could sense danger just looking at that clip so I’m thinking there’s enough lovely bearless places I can go sniffin’around here in Ireland.
The only hope I’d have with a mama bear is that she might think I was a lost cub but I’d have to get something radical done with my ears for that and Jean loves them too much for me to go down that road. Thank goodness for choice is all I can say! – Stanny
You handsome guy, you taught me something today. I didn’t know that Ireland has no bears! I like bears, but don’t want to meet one without a sturdy wall between us!
Hi Luanne, I can’t imagine how anyone could even think there are bears in Ireland. Never dawned on me that they might. Love Stanny.
Stanny, please forgive my ignorance. I still don’t have my trip set up for next summer, but I will for sure!
Oh you’re forgiven. There’s times when ignorance certainly isn’t bliss. Hope you have a cuddly sort of day. Stanny.
Stan, you are so adorable, how could anyone mistake you for a dangerous bear? Maybe a cuddly teddy bear. As for Jean’s old clothes for walking, why not? More fun to play with then and no bother about making a mess of her good clothes as she lets you jump all over her.
Oh I’m blushing now ~ no one can see it though under all the black.
Yeah, the clothes mean we can go into the muckiest places around and there’s no hassle. S.
Stanny, you are much cuter than a bear! You make sure you and Jean is safe from Canadian tourists!
CC, I must say those Canadians were very nice once they got over the heebie-jeebies. I don’t think they really believed Jean though when she said not to worry about bears over here.
This blog post made me smile and I giggled too… 😉
I love the comment “Dud Stan” 🙂
Aww, just a little black cub, hehe!
I wonder if I’ll grow up to look like the big guy in the pic? Stanny
Oh I am sure!
WOW!!