But, but, those cubs are just so darn cute!
The wife and I were walking a trail at Lake Moomaw, and about 30 feet in front of us, a cub rolled across the trail. I told my wife to wait, and sure enough, momma bear goes across the trail. While we were waiting, a young couple (you know the type-kerchiefs tied as sweat bands and all the other REI matched clothing) with an unleashed black lab mix came up from the other direction. I yelled at them to leash their dog, and they just looked at me like I was trying to impose my old, white values on them.
That’s when the momma bear crossed the trail, and their dog took off after the bear. The young woman suddenly realized the possibilities and whined at me for advice. I just told her it was a good idea to leash her dog in bear country. Then I looked at her and said if she was lucky, she’ll be able to locate her dog by the yelps and whimpers.
Then Mrs. VanShuyten and I left.
Yes, I do know the type, run into them all the time in my rural area, always seem to have dogs with no leash and often ask where they can go to "pet" bears.