Bears Do

I was at Anan Bear Reserve, a few years back. If you're deeply interested, check my story "Surrounded by Bears," in Traveler's Tales: Alaska, or it's on the routeofseeing.com website under its original title, "Do Bears."

But this story isn't in that story.

It was a crowded day there, and I was sitting on the edge of the viewing platform, my feet hanging off the edge. You're really not supposed to do that, but I knew the ranger, she wasn't worried about me, and we were all fine and happy.

I had the telephoto on and was shooting a rather distant bear that happened to be standing in quite dramatic light.

Then I felt something breathing on my feet.

Kind of a small bear. A very handsome bear. Fish in his mouth, head cocked slightly, looking at my feet from all of two or three inches away.

And the obvious expression on his face is the one we all have when we are traveling and something unexpected happens:

How did those get here?