Good People - "Randall Haley"

Throughout the journey of "Life" we are blessed with meeting good people. They aren't just every day folks, they are people that impact our lives in positive ways. Some are ever-present beacons providing much-needed yet often rebuked guidance, comfort, and hope. They are a steady source of light in our darkest hours. Other people are but a flash-in-time lasting only long enough to steer us back on course when we have strayed. Most people fall somewhere in between. Regardless of what kind of impact those "good people" have on me, I thank them all, for they make my journey oh so sweet.

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Randall Haley

There are good people you sometimes never meet. And that is a shame.

Society has yet to figure out how to address the information exchange in our rapidly evolving world. Literally overnight, social media has made "authorities" out of unknown and often unqualified people. Opinions have now become facts and the public is often swayed by penmanship and celebrity rather than by knowledge and morality. Often times I am more dismayed by the gullibility of the masses rather than by the false showmanship of the "P.T. Barnum-types". People today are so easily swooned by those trying to sell them something, it makes me wonder if I entered the wrong profession. Oh how easy it would be.

In the hunting community there are folks starved for information. And in today's high-tech world of information sharing, there is no shortage of people willing to impart "information". Unfortunately, when it comes to wildlife, most people consider themselves an expert and are not shy to share their "knowledge". Having spent my life studying and working with wildlife, some of the information I see shared often makes me cringe. Regardless of the sketchy stuff, I truly believe there are two powerful forms of information. "Knowledge," or science-based facts if you will, and "Wisdom," cognitive gains through a lifetime of experiences. Good teachers impart information from one or the other. Our best teachers, however, impart from both.

Let me be clear. I do not consider myself to be amongst the "best" teachers, I still have much to learn. I do however, consider myself a good teacher. Therefore I am often clearing up bad information that is so frequently shared. Though I try to set the record straight, I am often seen as a know-it-all especially by those I contradict. And that's okay, for I am not trying to educate them, for they are already informed and their opinions are firm. I am, however, trying to educate the quiet ones. The "lurkers" so to speak since they represent the majority seeking knowledge.

Now enter Randall.

I had learned to pick out the false prophets from those that truly had something special to share, usually in the form of wisdom.

Randall is one of those guys.

Though he didn't seek higher education, I consider him to be a highly-educated man. His lifetime of adventure in the outdoors is something I could listen to for hours on end and I could always walk away with having learned something I had not known before. His soft-spoken words and willingness to share in his life's experiences immediately drew me to him and made him one of my favorite teachers. Little did he know that I looked forward to reading his comments whenever they were offered. I found his writings extremely interesting and believed he held a wealth of information that was waiting to be tapped. Thus, you can imagine my surprise when he sought "me" for advice. Apparently he found the teacher in me and it renewed my spirits.

Though we've only known each other for a short time I can tell you without a doubt, he is one of those guys you easily, and will always, appreciate in life.  I know this because out of the blue, he sent me a small gift, a CD of his, for no one reason at all other than to simply lift my spirits...and reaffirm that he is "good people".

And much like his stories, his songs are equally fulfilling. My youngest son and I already can't stop singing "Gobblers Noggin'."

Randall you're a good one and I thank you for restoring my faith in the people I try to teach.

Education Without Beration... It Works!

I am often reminded that it is more important than ever to impact human behavior, not just to ensure people are safe around bears, but that bears are safe around people. Everyone has heard that "A fed bear is a dead bear," but some truly don't get the meaning of that message. It really does happen...and unfortunately bears continue to die. Yet some people still don't understand that. Willful negligence, intentionally feeding bears when you know it's wrong, is often a crime and the fault of person performing the act. However, uninformed negligence, when folks don't realize the consequences of their actions, is my fault and the fault of anyone else working in the world of bear education. Therefore, we must improve the ways we reach and speak to people if we want to exact positive change to conserve and protect bears.

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The more I immerse myself into the world of wildlife education the more I realize how ignorant I truly am on this subject. Don't get me wrong, I feel pretty confident I know more about wildlife than the proverbial "average bear," but where I'm often stumped, is trying to figure out ways to influence human behavior, for that is where one's true power lies. I am wanting to not only get folks to hear what I'm saying but to literally reach inside and connect with them, to touch them in ways that actually helps them to understand and hopefully influences their behavior for the betterment of themselves and the wildlife around them. Most of the time I am a complete failure, but every once in a while I have success. The following is an example and although it may only be a small step, every long journey begins with that initial step.

Over the course of the last year or so, since I began writing my blog, I have accrued a small following of wildlife aficionados...actually bear lovers to be exact. No shame in that, for I too am one. Occasionally these folks send me information on the "bear happenings" around their town. I enjoy reading them and I encourage everyone to keep them coming!

Anyway, one recent "happening" I received was a link to an online news story about a black bear that had been killed by state wildlife agent while it was rummaging through a dumpster behind a city hospital. The person sharing the story, who I consider a friend, was obviously upset and wanted some answers to a few questions that were not addressed in the story. That too was understandable. What followed though surprised me because they were not the same questions that came to my mind even though we had both read the exact same story. This intrigued me.

Following the progression of the story on her FaceBook page, there was a small but growing contingency of people expressing anger and frustration at the wildlife agency. This even spilled into conversation from other groups I am a part of and led to even more questions about the situation.

Isn't discharging a firearm in the city dangerous? Why couldn't they  just tranquilize the bear? Why couldn't they relocate it? Was it really that dangerous? How could they just kill it? Have they no conscience?

This perplexed me for I could not understand the ill-feelings toward the wildlife agency. I knew the answers to all these questions, in fact, they were obvious to me. My understanding came from my first-hand experience having worked as a biologist for a state wildlife agency. But what was clear to me was ever-so muddy to them. And this was no fault whatsoever on their part. They simply had no possible way of knowing the answers to these questions since they had never been told. This is where we, as wildlife experts and educators, have failed them.

First off, let me start by saying, never in my life have I wanted to kill a bear in that situation. I am also almost certain that none of the guys I have ever worked with ever entertained that idea either. It's a necessary evil that unfortunately comes with the job and is usually invoked as a last resort. After all, we went to school and dedicated our lives to wildlife because we have a passion for animals and the places they roam.

But how do I explain this and respond to some of their unanswered questions to a frenzied group of people that have seemingly already drawn their conclusions?

Simple...by speaking their language and opening up a clear line of communication.

I did a little bit of investigating and could tell by their background information that many of the folks commenting on the page were either hospital staff or friends of those in that profession. So against my initial "non-interjectionary" judgement...I entered the conversation.

Instead of entering as a know-it-all, or as my son would say, "Smarty McSmartpants," I entered as a teammate, looking for answers to some contentious questions. I also wanted everyone to see the "bigger picture" right out of the gate so they could start listening with a fresh set of ears that weren't already tainted by previous statements. Up to that point, most of the comments were focused on the action that took place (dead bear) and how things should have been done differently.

This brings us back to MY initial question upon reading the article. How did that bear end up being a frequent visitor around the hospital dumpster in the first place?

Then it dawned on me and the proverbial light bulb went off, or should I say "on" in this case. I made a connection with how I could relate to them and help them understand the issue by using something they were familiar with. I brought up the concept of... "a doctor or a nurse treating the symptom and not the disease."

This they understood.

Placing the argument in their terms, they now had a way of understanding that the agent was not the issue, he was only a symptom. The bear feeding in the hospital dumpster was the real problem and the "disease" which needed to be addressed.

Not long after I entered the conversation it was revealed to me that there were actually four bears altogether and that folks were prone to take selfies with them. Hospital staff would also feed them, even rolling apples to the younger ones.

The disease did indeed reveal itself in stunning fashion.

If that issue was not resolved similar unfortunate situations would be inevitable.

I continued my conversation with an open mind and a friendly attitude. I was not in the least bit insulting nor did I show or have any contempt for their actions. These were people I have never met and I knew not their situation. In other words, I could not pass judgment on their negligence. For all I knew they could have believed in their heart they were truly "doing good".

Within minutes I was not only accepted but I was also invited to give a presentation to hospital staff on " How a fed bear is a dead bear." Sadly, in this case, I will have a shining example.

I accepted without blinking an eye and the arrangements are in the works.

Having said all of this, I want to be crystal clear. I am not mad at, or frustrated with, anyone at the hospital. For all I know, some of them may sincerely believe they were helping the bears. If that is the case, then the only one to blame is myself and other bear advocates for not reaching these folks before an issue was created. There is no sense berating anyone because I promise you, a conversation has never been started and an argument has never been won with an insult.

And this is one presentation I am so looking forward to giving.

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On a Side Note: It turns out the bear was not even killed by a state wildlife agent so I urge folks to gather all facts before formulating an opinion. And I'm sure some of you may already realize this but the media is not always the best source of information. :)

A Soft Spot for "Bub"

Uh oh...I think I may need to prepare you for a letdown but don't worry, it's a happy ending.

If you saw the title of this blog and grabbed a tissue box or a small bag of popcorn so you could settle in and read about a little bear named "Bub"...it ain't gonna happen. In fact, some of you may be shocked because I'm about to throw political correctness out the window and talk about B.U.B. - "Beautifully Ugly Bears".

And yes I've known a few.

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"Ol' Griz"

Recently I was pouring through some old files on my computer and I stumbled upon a cache of trail camera  videos I captured. The videos were taken while documenting black bears that were visiting bait sites for a population survey. It was in this cache that I found a video of Ol' Griz, an awesome specimen and the poster child for what I call a "beautifully ugly bear".

He resided in the Cherokee National Forest and was undoubtedly the monarch of the woods. And yes, he was beautifully ugly.

Ol' Griz - Monarch of Cherokee

Battle-scarred and worn, I nicknamed him Ol' Griz for he truly was the size of a grizzly and it looked like he had the temperament to boot. His sheer size would have set him apart from other bears but his uniqueness didn't stop there. His overall mass caused his body to waggle side-to-side as he lumbered through the forest. And lumber he did. He walked at a slow, deliberate pace which was compounded, or possibly caused, by a slight limp. I'm sure other bears knew he was coming simply by the way he he approached. His entrance was deliberate and kingly, always deserving of attention and respect.

Undoubtedly Ol' Griz was formidable. He had the face of a fighter, tattered ears and missing hair. I'm sure he not only doled out a couple of beatings, he probably took it on the chin a few times as well. When he entered the scene, other bears gave way. Given his stature among his kind, I have no doubt he remained the undisputed champion of the forest. And to be perfectly honest, although I love running into bears every now and then, he is one bear I am quite content with not ever having met. Ironically enough, it gave me both comfort and  torment knowing he was out there, quietly lurking in the shadows, watching over his realm.

Ol' Griz was massive. The "small" bear on the right was about 125 lbs. 

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"Spur"

It's hard to find instances of old beat up and tattered bears when reminiscing about my time at the bear center since almost all of the bears I cared for were tiny little creatures to begin with. You know the kind, the ones that automatically make you smile when you see or think about them. Now if you would please stop smiling for a moment and try to refocus so I can tell you about another kind of bear, one that is different looking but equally beautiful for his uniqueness.

Anyway, there was one bear, that I cared for that did stand out. It was because he wasn't so tiny and come to think of it, he wasn't very pretty either! But he was unique and that was what made him pretty special.

In August of 1999 the National Park Service called and asked if we could provide care for a bear that had come into their possession. What made this bear so different what is that it was not an orphan or injured cub. He was an adult male black bear that had been hit by a car just within the borders of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Given he was struck on a section of road named the "spur" (the road connected the towns of Gatlinburg and Sevierville), he was aptly named "Spur" before I ever laid eyes on him. This was probably a good thing because he too was one "ugly" bear. (Just so you know, the reason I can call him ugly without feeling guilty is because he so very much reminded me of me!)

When Spur arrived at the center the first thing I thought was "Man...he's big!"

Tipping the scales at a whopping 132 pounds made him three times the size of any bear I typically handled. So in my narrowly-focused version of what typical bears looked like, he looked "over-sized"...JUST LIKE ME.

This makes me laugh thinking about it now, especially being around other bears that were over three times the size of him, Ol' Griz for example. But his size wasn't his only distinguishing characteristic. His hair was sparse and thinning...JUST LIKE ME.

NOT Spur...but this is a spitting image of him..

His hair loss may have been his way of coping with the intense summer heat or he possibly could have been overcoming the latter stages of mange. Assuredly it was not middle-aged male pattern baldness that so many of us suffer from (cough, cough). Regardless of the circumstance, he was one of those bald-looking bears. Add to the fact that much of his lower half was shaved during the veterinarian examination and you have one really awkward looking nekkid bear.

But he was also behaviorally awkward. Don't get me wrong, he behaved exactly like a wild bear should but given the circumstances of suddenly being placed in a cage, he knew there was something better "outside" the cage but didn't know how to get there. This made him quietly amble about the pen daftly looking around which gave the impression of him being aloof...JUST LIKE ME.

In all honesty, I think he was deep in bear-thought trying to figure out how to get out so he was probably way smarter than people gave him credit for....JUST LIKE ME. (Sorry I couldn't help that one!)

Anyway, Spur only stayed at the center for about two weeks until we were sure he was fully recovered from the accident and was not suffering from internal injuries. Fortunately he wasn't. We released him pretty much in the same location from whence he came.

Soon after, I too remember thinking about running into him as I wandered through the forest. Yes, even though I considered him to be a an "ugly" bear, It pleased me back then much as it does now to know he was out there.

And that my friends is the grandeur of the untamed wild. The fact that deep in the shadows you may someday run into a "beautifully ugly bear". They are, by far, my favorite kind!