A few years ago, a grizzly bear paid a visit to our neighbourhood in Marsh Lake. Not living full-time at the lake, I was not accustomed to these kinds of visitors. A neighbour, just a few doors from mine, took a bunch of pictures of the bear while it was eating fresh grass in their yard. It was a beautiful animal according to the photos. I never had a chance to see the bear myself and only learned about its visit after the fact since it did not stick around for very long in our neighbourhood. By that time, it was being seen along the highway some 20 kilometres away. It seems like it was on a steady course, going towards the north end of the lake—sometimes being seen travelling on wide rock beaches, typical of early summer before the lake starts rising substantially, and other times staying close to the highway. The animal did not seem to be a threat but merely an inconvenience and, at the most, an annoyance.
Back in Whitehorse, I have yet to see a bear, with my own eyes, that is wandering in my neighbourhood. This is after more than 10 years in the same place, but I am aware that this might be an anomaly compared to what most people experience in the city. Nonetheless, I know that bears are frequent visitors on my property in Marsh Lake, judging by scat piles they leave behind in the driveway. In the early summer, biking along the highway at Marsh Lake, you can also notice the scat piles on the shoulder of the road. Those young dandelion flowers coming out of the salty soil, next to the road, must taste great to a bear just out of hibernation, and they sure fill their bellies with them.
I am always on the fence as to whether it is best to know about those things or if ignorance is bliss. On days when the grizzly was in our neighbourhood at Marsh Lake, I made several walking trips to the lake and to a nearby creek. Being off-grid and in a dry cabin, I supplement my water supply with creek water for showering and dishwashing. It helps reduce car trips to the water plant where, ironically, the bear was seen a few days later. Not being aware of the bear, I got busy with my water chores.
But if I had known about a 500-pound grizzly next door, I am sure I would have changed my behaviour: made more noise going to the outhouse, brought bear spray to the creek and lake. Above all, my head would have been filled with worries and questions: Is the bear here? Can it hear me?
Being “bearanoid” is just one short step away. Bearanoia can develop when someone is becoming paranoid about bear encounters. I know. I’ve been there.
And then the real question arises: Is it worth even thinking about?
The thing is, bears do their own thing most of the time without humans knowing about it. Like the majority of wild animals, they see, smell and hear us way before we see, smell and hear them. Bearanoia. Sure, yummy grass, just fresh out of the ground, is an easy lunch in the neighbour’s yard, but there is no reason to stick around longer than needed. Bears will move on, given there are no other attractants. Soon enough, they will know what we are up to and they will prefer to stay clear.
So, is ignorance bliss? Well, I am inclined to think it is when it comes to a 500-pound healthy grizzly that is minding its own business.
