Thinking about black bears

This week I’m attending a writers’ retreat in East Tennessee, which complements research for my current suspense book that’s set in the Great Smoky Mountains. I’m conducting research and getting a feel for the atmosphere.

The lodge where my friends and I are staying has all manner of bear motifs on everything from lamps and rugs to bedspreads. We even spotted a bear this afternoon, just a few feet from where some of us were working outside with our laptops.

Until today, I hadn’t considered having a bear in my story. But a visit from a black bear has inspired me to include one, even if he has just a fleeting appearance in the story. Naturally there is a drone because my books always have quadcopters. And also a dog, because there’s always a dog. But I’m determined to include a bear somewhere this time, too.

From a distance, bears are kind of cute. However, they are not harmless animals, and it’s against the law to approach a black bear in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

A recent social media post shows black bears wandering into a gift shop in downtown Gatlinburg. That makes me a little sad because they wouldn’t venture into crowded areas if humans weren’t nudging them out of the forest. But it also demonstrates how adaptable these animals are.

The National Wildlife Federation says black bears can live up to 30 years in the wild, but most die before they are in their early 20s. Adults are usually about three feet tall at the shoulder, and their length from nose to tail is about six feet. A large male black bear can exceed 600 pounds in weight, while females seldom weigh more than 200 pounds.

According to oneearth.org, “Few animals embody the quiet resilience of North America’s wild landscapes like the American black bear. Elusive yet adaptable, it has learned to thrive in a changing world, holding onto ancient instincts while navigating the edges of modern life.”

An article on oneearth.org entitled, The American black bear: From sacred stories to suburban shadows says, “From ancient legends to modern conservation efforts, the American black bear remains a powerful symbol of wildness and resilience. Protecting its future means protecting the forests, waters, and shared spaces that sustain us all.”

Bears are one more reason to go outdoors and see all the amazing creatures God created, even if some are sort of scary. But you might want to take a can of bear spray.