We arrived at our five acre wooded lot excited to get to our Boeler trailer that we lived in. It was exciting to do that while we were building our shed to move into. Talk about roughing. It was cold in May in the interior of northwestern Canada. If he walked by, he’d see a barely cleared lot and a makeshift clothesline in the trees, in front of the smaller Boeler trailer. My new husband and I had just purchased land in Cluculz Lake, BC. We didn’t know much about the area. The price was correct.

Getting ready for the night after being there for a while, we were woken up by the trailer…bouncing. Half asleep we couldn’t figure it out, but we were so tired, we went back to sleep when it stopped dead.

We checked under the trailer in the morning to find the broken storage bags. That’s when we realized it must be a bear. We were city people.

The next encounter we saw a bear, the brown bear variety. Coming home from shopping in a small town miles away, we put the groceries on the table in our newly built shed. I’m not sure where we went. There was a lot to do on the lot. Walking back to the shed, we saw a large bear, standing behind the clothesline. A few meters away we saw the puppy.

We stayed there, and she stayed there. She finally turned around and headed for the next vacant wooded lot. We wait a while and then we approach our shed. The loaf of fresh bread was missing! She didn’t touch anything else on the table or the cabinets. Looking around us we saw that the screen of the window was well torn, with a large hole. Aha, this mom was neat and tidy, or just picky. I’m so glad we didn’t come back before her, or we may have gotten closer to her than on the clothesline!

Asking about the neighborhood, we were told that our land was on a bear trail. At that time hardly anyone passed through that land, except deer and foxes. The bears were used to freedom and considered it their land. Well, I guess we had to get used to it. Maybe in time they’ll know it’s our property?

We returned home from the Okanagan that we had visited with our families. It was summer and a great time to bring home peach berries. He was used to preserving the fruit. I knew it would be a little awkward on a camp stove, but I loved peaches. We arrived back in Cluculz very late at night and very tired. I put the crate of peaches outside in the back of the shed where there was a table. In the morning I was anxious to start canning. I went out to look for the box, almost empty! A few meters away I saw the part eaten peaches vomited everywhere on the ground, and for a good stretch. I cried real tears. Will we ever learn?

We had to take care of our property. This is what we did. There is no open garbage outside, at all. All trash in tightly sealed, puncture-free trash bags and stored in our vehicle, with the windows closed and double-checked.

Do not use compost in the garden. Always watch our backs and make noise, maybe sing. Things were going well for a while, no bear encounters. We go to the dump, so proud that we are smarter now. We’re? Here we are trying not to encourage bears, and on the way to the dump, there are torn garbage bags with garbage on the sides. Lots of garbage bags, even hanging on the trees.

I couldn’t understand it. Earle walked over to the dumpster to drop off our bags. He got up a huge paw, only his hand was missing! Of course it was a big bear. Earle only had to take a quick look; Indeed, it was a very large bear. It annoyed me that Earle had to watch and laugh. He wanted to go, right now. We went. Were people afraid of the bear eating place, or were they too lazy to throw more into the dumpster? Later that year the dump was closed. There was a well maintained weir for another lake further up the road, which we were told we could go to in our area. There were bears there too, but up the hill and further away. There were machines for plowing and burying.

We thought our newly built cabin was safe enough. We’re in the kitchen eating, when we hear a loud bang against the wall, at the window above the sink! I’m warning Earle not to go out and investigate. We wait. Checking later, we see faint mud-like marks on the wall below the window. I am very happy that the cabin is built high up. We know it was a bear; the window was open while we were preparing dinner. I was also told that bears really like the smell of dirty diapers.

Our meetings would continue. It was everyday life for us and for our neighbors. It was not unusual to see a bear on your patio or deck, through your windows. I dented a couple of old pots, making a loud noise for the indifferent bear in the garden digging up and eating last year’s parsnips. That bear didn’t move too soon.

A little puppy was digging at the bottom of the outhouse and came to the back door. I thought about taking a photo through the window, but even as close as I was, the image wasn’t clear. I no longer had my camera with the zoom lens. I wouldn’t risk getting close to a bear. I don’t have pictures of bears. I put mothballs in the bottom of the latrine. There are bears out there.