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Never Makes the Newspaper

May 7, 2007 at 9:58 AM

A bear ate all my pigeons, just now, while I was practicing.

Thanks, bear.

Ohmygosh, I'm so sorry!
Yikes!
!!??*()$^@ That stinks!! I thought bears were smarter than that! Sorry...
Sometimes you're the statue,
Sometimes you're the pigeon.
Sometimes you're the bear.
:(
How did the bear manage to get more than one at a time? I would think the others would fly away.
Are you sure it wasn't my moose?
Well that tops seeing a turkey vulture on the way home from school (maybe it was going to clean up the squished armadillo that I've been passing for 2 days).
Nature's red in tooth and claw. Yikes.
It basically ripped a hole in the side of the coop and took its time. Only one of them could find a way out in the dark. Pigeons can't fly much in the dark.

I heard the boards splintering and the thrashing chicken wire, but my washing machine got off balance about the same time. I figured it was the laundry, or the boys upstairs, who were watching a movie real loud to counter my practicing.

I wish I'd figured it out. They were racing pigeons from a lineage that worked here in Alaska during World War II. They'd been passed through several hands, including artist Boyd Shaffer, who taught Bob Ross. Big, beautiful, irreplacable birds.

Linda, your moose was seen last night over at Craig's, running through the yard in terror.
The bear should be put on trial and if found guilty he shouls spend the rest of his life in prison. But then I tend to anthropomorphise animals, so maybe not.
Oh Emily, I'm so sorry for what happened! I like birds way more than bears -- no teddies in China when I grew up so don't see the point of bear-cuteness. But I've got to say this sounds like a very hungrey and smart bear. Hmmm, still don't like bears!
My moose can take any bear any day.
That's too bad about the pigeons, but I really wish I had a bear.
Well, not HAD, but you know.
Hi Emily,
I am sorry for your loss. These pigeons were your pets and obviously dear to you.
I have been reading quite a lot about bear encounters with humans in the U.S. I also watched an Oprah episode about this. Could it be that their habitat is being eroded? I hope some humane solution to this dilemma is found.
Best wishes,
Luis
Wacky, undated Alaska grizzly bear notice, if you scroll to the May 3 entry of this 'blog' / idea web... Still stinks...
Sorry-- nothing there-- do comments not accept html?
Luis, bears are a hot topic around here. It is difficult for me to be convinced that habitat erosion is the culprit when I think of the percentage of the Kenai peninsula that is developed compared to the percentage that still remains untouched.

Gabriel, I'm not sure what happened. You could tell me where the website is, and I'd go take a look.

Gheeze, you might try buying a type writer in case you miss that pecking noise. If you spend a lot of time at the keyboard I would understand....

Further more, I told what's his name (hint hint: the one who you're not supposed to know what his name is) to stay out of that cave and not rile up that big hairy animal!

If you have any pictures of yourself growing old behind the typer writer trying to sooth yourself with artificial, inorganic and counterfeit pecking please send it to me, and I will let Johnny (heh oops you weren't supposed to know that)...

I will show him what his shananigans lead to