The Cutest Visitor
Pepper Scott
I love looking up at the sky, admiring the warm glow of the sunrise and the glorious colors of the sunset. There is something so peaceful about watching dreamy, flowy clouds drift across the endless blue canvas above. They seem to carry a little hope wherever they go.
I enjoy the quiet serenity of nature just as much as I enjoy its lively orchestra of rustling leaves, dancing winds, and birds happily chirping away. Sometimes, all it takes is a few minutes outside to remind me how beautiful the simple things in life can be.
But one evening, as I stepped outside to enjoy the sunset, nature decided to add a little surprise to my usual routine.
And I mean a BIG surprise.
Sitting on top of our fence, in the very spot where our neighbor's cat used to sit when visiting Jolie, was an unexpected visitor.
A little bear cub!
The cutest visitor I have ever seen.
I imagine the little guy was just as startled by me as I was by him. We locked eyes and stared at each other for quite some time, apparently trying to figure out what the other was doing there. Eventually, I remembered that I had a camera and managed to snap a few pictures.
Meanwhile, the little fellow seemed to be considering his next move. He shifted around as if he might jump down onto our porch. That was my cue to quietly retreat indoors and close the door. Cute as he was, I thought it best to admire him from a safe distance.
He eventually changed his mind, climbed down, and wandered to the other side of our yard. Unfortunately, there wasn't much waiting for him there. It has been a particularly rough year, with an early frost and a long drought wiping out the fruit crop we had been looking forward to. So, no fruit buffet for our little visitor.
He then climbed up a pine tree and settled onto a branch, sitting there for a while. I couldn't help imagining that he had found the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset. Apparently, I wasn't the only one in the neighborhood who appreciated a beautiful evening sky!
After a while, he sprang down into our backyard and jogged across it as casually as someone heading home after a long day. He certainly seemed comfortable, almost as if he owned the place.
A friend at work later wondered, "How does the universe make something that cute with claws that large?"
I had exactly the same thought!
He was barely the size of our Jolie, and if I didn't know better, I might have been tempted to step outside and offer that cutie a little hug. Of course, that would have been a terrible idea. Admiring from behind a closed door is much wiser, especially when the adorable visitor comes equipped with impressive claws!
As cute and entertaining as this little encounter was, it also reminded me of how difficult life has been for the bears around our area. With food becoming scarce in their natural habitat, more of them have been venturing into residential neighborhoods in search of something to eat. It puts both the bears and the people they encounter at risk.
My heart goes out to these beautiful creatures. They are simply trying to find enough food to survive, and this year has not made that easy.
I hope our little visitor finds his way back to a safe place, discovers enough food, and stays out of trouble. Most of all, I hope he makes it through the coming winter.
For now, I will remember that unexpected evening when a little bear cub appeared on our fence, interrupted my sunset watching, and reminded me that sometimes the most wonderful moments are the ones we never see coming.
I went outside to enjoy the sunset.
I got a bear cub instead.
I'd say nature did a pretty good job of upgrading my evening! 💛
