How could you chase something this little and cute with a pack of dogs!

It’s Terrific Tuesday again– how’s everything in your neck of the woods! Back To School and Food Lion in Daleville: Wednesday, August 19 is a monumental day in Botetourt County. Food Lion has a ribbon cutting tomorrow at the same time the kiddies are making it up the steps of the bus! I am heading out to the Chamber After Hours at Food Lion this evening. Ahh…the advantage of Chamber of Commerce membership!

Speaking of lions-I am reading “A Lion Called Christian: The True Story of the Remarkable Bond between Two Friends and a Lion ” a reprint of a 1972 book about two men John Rendall and Anthony “Ace” Bourke and a lion cub they named Christian in London. They repatriated Christian, the son of zoo lions, to Africa under the instruction of Born Free actor Bill Travers and wildlife specialist George Adamson. A YouTube video a couple of years ago brought it back to the forefront. Last week the documentary was on Discovery or one of those channels. There are several videos and altogether they have had 30 million youTube viewings.  The book fills in the gaps. The clip you will see on the video is the reunion of the trio after Christian had been in the Kenyan wild for one year. They say animals are dumb — he remembered them and greeted them like long lost brothers. They never saw him again after the reunion.

For the first year after my father’s death every time I went down to Daddy’s house where my brother lives now, my Daddy’s cat, Kitty King, would run over to Daddy’s bedroom door and push it open, get on Daddy’s bed and turn around and look at me. Many of you know that my father and I were two peas in a pod and I looked after him for many years. I will always think the cat was asking me where my father went and I think he truly grieved for my Daddy who loved that cat like one of us.

Switching gears to other remarkable animals!

Here’s a bear report from Angie:

My husband, Matt, also sighted a large black bear.  He was driving in the Troutville area at about 8:00 pm when he saw a large black furry thing on the side of the road, which he soon discovered was a bear.  The bear darted across the road and Matt slammed on his brakes, nearly hitting it with our truck.  After the bear safely crossed the road, my husband said the large animal turned and calmly looked back at him, as if to say, “I have the right of way here.”

Now from me! Last Friday on the way home from football practice, the biggest bear I have ever seen galloped across the road in front of me and my son Zach. I would say if I were dumb enough to measure it– the bear rump would be chest high on me and I am 5″8. My guesstimate would be about 500 pounds. That is what I call a Bruin. No I am not going to tell where I saw it. Just know it was between James River High School and before I got home. The Bear “chase” season is on and well I am developing some opinions about that, so I will not knowingly contribute to the demise of baby or youthful bears to a pack of hounds and curs.

Bears can be pests that I know — we have had our share. However….

It’s my sense of fair play being abused here with packs of dogs chasing bears–I have in my life seen a video of a bear chase in Buchanan several years ago where one young bear was chased by one pack of bear dogs then another fresh pack until the bear couldn’t stand up and the pack of dogs tore it to pieces. The owners ride around in trucks and listen to radio collars. That hardly seems sporting. I find little fault with the hounds– they are only doing what comes naturally or they are taught.

I will have another bear story to publish soon, I am working on it now, so keep an eye peeled for another chapter “In the Bears of Botetourt,” a drama happening daily in our own fair county.

See ya Next Week!