ONE GOOD PHOTO

COMPILATION AND COMMENTARY

BY LUCY WARNER

APRIL 27, 2020

THIS IS EITHER THE BEST DOCTORED PHOTOGRAPH I’VE EVER SEEN, OR THE BEST ARGUMENT FOR GETTING A HANDLE – AND DOING IT FAST -- ON GLOBAL WARMING AND HABITAT DESTRUCTION. I CAME ACROSS THIS PHOTO ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. I HAVE TWICE SEEN PHOTOS TAKEN INSIDE SUBURBAN OR CITY ENVIRONMENTS OF PUMAS LYING QUIETLY UNDER A TREE WATCHING PEOPLE. I PERSONALLY, WAS HONORED TO MEET A SMALL FLORIDA DEER FACE TO FACE AT THE JACKSONVILLE ZOO. I CROSSED A LITTLE FOOTBRIDGE AND HAPPENED TO SEE UNMISTAKEABLE DEER TRACKS IN THE STREAMBED. LOOKING UP, THERE IT WAS STANDING JUST INSIDE THE TREES. APPARENTLY I DISTURBED HIS DRINKING.

THIS BEAR BOTHERS ME MORE, THOUGH, BECAUSE I’VE SEEN A BEAR’S FOOT WITH ITS’ THREE INCH LONG CLAWS, PLUS BLACK BEARS LIKE THIS ONE WEIGH FROM TWO HUNDRED TO FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS. THEY ARE ALSO KNOWN TO BE VERY CLEVER ANIMALS. I SAW VIDEO OF ONE BREAKING INTO A CAR TO GET A LOAF OF BREAD THAT HAD BEEN LEFT ON THE BACK SEAT. HE DIDN’T USE A SLIM JIM, OF COURSE, HE USED BRUTE FORCE, BUT HE GOT THE LOAF OF BREAD.

HOWEVER, THIS PICTURE, WHICH I THINK IS NOT DOCTORED NOR DOES IT LOOK LIKE A MAN IN A BEAR SUIT, SHOWS THAT THIS VERY INTELLIGENT ANIMAL MUST HAVE BEEN SITTING IN THE WOODS WATCHING THE FAMILY CLIMB INTO THE HAMMOCK AND LIE BACK. BEAR SAID TO HIMSELF, THAT LOOKS LIKE FUN. I THINK I’LL TRY IT. HOW ELSE WOULD IT HAVE FIGURED OUT WHAT TO DO WITH A HAMMOCK?

WE ARE REMOVING THEIR HABITAT FOR FARMING, LOGGING, MINING AND MOVING OUT BEYOND THE CITY LIMITS BY THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS SO WE CAN HAVE THOSE BEAUTIFUL BIG LAWNS. WE ARE REPLACING ANIMALS ON THEIR OWN LAND. TO SLAUGHTER THEM BECAUSE THEY COME TOO CLOSE TO US WOULD BE A SIN, BUT SUCH A FAMILIAR SIN. ONLY IN A PROGRESSIVE SOCIETY WILL WILDLIFE REFUGES EVER BE  HONORED AS A SACRED TRUST. IT WAS THEODORE ROOSEVELT WHO SET UP THE FIRST NATIONAL PARK WILDLIFE PRESERVES. NOW THAT IS ENLIGHTENMENT: FINDING THE BEAUTY OF NATURE WITHOUT FEELING WE HAVE TO KILL IT. IT’S LIKE THE REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RAPE AND MAKING LOVE.

BLACK BEAR VISITS DAYTONA BEACH FL 2014

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