Shadow exploring the mountain
Hi, my name is Shadow and I’m so happy you’re following my adventures with me that my tail is shimmying like a rattlesnake’s rattle (that’s how we Pomeranians do it, eh). In my previous blog, I talked about the Colorado trips with my humans and getting to see all my forest friends. Most of them are friendly to a quiet little fuzzball like me – or at least they don’t run away when I’m near. But every now and then on that mountain, I smell danger.
Shadow lives up to her name
My foster parents say it was back on July 9th last year. I was having one great adventure after another outside, watching the chipmunks up close and the deer from a distance, when I smelled something strong coming from the trees near the cabin. I couldn’t see anything, but I could smell anxiety (whatever that smells like – I can’t spell it) coming from the humans. Every evening, they were busy taking down the hummingbird feeders and the chipmunk seeds and making sure there was no food anywhere. My foster Mom wouldn’t just let me out to do my “thing,” but would come out and stand close to me. It’s during these times that I truly live up to my name, by being both the color of a shadow and by being my Mom’s shadow (see photo).
Anyway, I couldn’t see anything, but then I have to be within 20 paws of my foster Dad to even recognize him (I can smell him from a great distance, but don’t say anything – he’s rather sensitive). I sure could smell fear among my pack, and the smell of danger from the forest was overwhelming, so, whatever it was, it was getting closer!
That night, the humans were very careful to hide any trace of food, and to keep everything in sealed containers. Even I had a hard time smelling any treats usually left on the kitchen counter (sigh). I sure wish I was taller. We all got ready for bed but I could feel the tension everywhere. All the deer and chipmunks were gone, too. I wanted reassurance from my foster Mom, and she held me a lot, but I could tell she was nervous.
Why Shadow doesn't wander off alone
Just before dawn, I opened one eye as I heard my foster Mom get up and go out to the living room, and suddenly she yelled, “THERE’S A BEAR ON THE PORCH! THERE’S A BEAR ON THE PORCH!” She kept saying it until everybody was up and coming toward the door that opens to a deck (where my chipmunk buddies usually come to eat). A giant American Black Bear (well, he was “giant” to me) was rummaging through chipmunk food that had been placed there early, and brushing against the sliding glass door! One of the humans banged on the glass door, and everyone started making a lot of noise. I’m almost completely deaf, and even I heard it! Finally, after what seemed a lifetime (to me – it may have just been a few seconds to the others), the bear climbed down and slowly walked back into the trees.
But he didn’t go far! Throughout the day (July 10th), he stayed by, making grunting and growling noises and watching every movement in and around the cabin. He was stalking us! I wasn’t allowed out of the cabin for anything – not even to do my “business!” Instead, my foster Mom made me use some newspaper (what’s the fun in that?). That afternoon, one of my foster Mom’s nephews (he goes by “Mike”) caught the bear with his camera within 30 feet of the cabin. (I don’t know what a camera is, but my pack is always showing me a tiny version of me whenever they use one.) Anyway, the photo sequence here shows a few “tiny versions” of the bear. I know that I said he was a “Black” bear, and he looks mostly brown. But I’m a dog, and mostly colorblind! Apparently, “brown bears” are all brown, but black bears have dark on their underside and brown everywhere else. Who knows! I heard the humans debate that issue most of the evening. All I know is that I could now connect that horrible and dangerous smell with an actual beast. He could’ve eaten me in less than a mouthful. That night, just before bed, I heard my foster Mom say, “Thank you, Lord, for keeping us safe today.” I’m not sure what she meant, but I couldn’t smell as much fear after that.
The bear was gone the next day, and I was allowed outside again (but my foster Mom stayed close by). Woohoo! Cheeky was back to eating seeds on the very spot that bear had stood, and the hummingbirds were everywhere! Life is good.
