Just got this email that had an interesting picture of a black bear in a dingy. Here is the story:
October 26, 2011 | Location: Sonora Island | Submitted by rubus_idaeus
This summer we had a funny thing happen in our anchorage. We were in Handfield Bay (Thurston Bay Marine Provincial Park) on the Northwest side of Sonora Island, British Columbia. Tammy and Allen, a couple from Blaine WA went to shore with their dingy to walk about and explore like all boaters love to do. My friends and I were taking in the morning sun and sipping our coffee when we noticed a bear wondering the beach looking for crabs under rocks. What a treat to see! After a while we noticed the bear nearing the dingy left by the couple. They had wandered to the other side of the bay out of sight. We eagerly watched to see what the bear would do with the dingy as he approached it. At first there was a sniff and a little punt with his nose then he proceeded to climb in. We were all laughing and questioning the safety of the dingy. Within no time the bear figured out that this dingy with an inflatable bottom was quite comfy. He curled up in it and lay his head over the side. I dingyed in for a closer look hoping to capture some great pictures and perhaps scare him out before he decided to make a chew toy of it. I was successful getting great photos but not in getting him out. I yelled, waved my hands and even threw a rock or two beside him. He just watched them roll along the ground. I even let an air horn blast 20 feet away. Not as much as a glance my way just a slight ear twitch. He was quite content to stay resting in the dingy. By now Tammy and Allen were on their way back and wondered what was going on. We yelled across the bay to let them know and they cautiously hurried over to help. The three of us stood there for a while trying to figure out how to get the bear out when he finally ambled out himself. He didn’t run or anything, just continued rolling rocks looking for crabs. When he got a safe distance away we grabbed the dingy and carried it to the water. Minimal damage occurred. A chew on a lifejacket, a bite to an oar and a crunch to a water bottle. Tammy and Allen came by to thank us, exchange emails and to laugh about the odd experience. Kris Samuels of SV Fantasea Victoria, British Columbia
