Not that I haven't been writing. I've been tweaking as I write, which takes up much time. I have also been keeping up-to-date with local and out-of-state stories on bear sightings. As I've blogged before bears figure prominently in my story, so I've been keeping track of the bear related stories.
Sadly, in late September there was a news story about a shot bear being dumped in front of a supermarket in San Leandro. As far as I know they haven't located the men who dumped the bear. In other bear-related news I read an article about a country singer who staged a hunting trip to shot a tame bear back in 2004. I'd heard of bear baiting, but never canned hunting, where animals appear to be raised as pets only to be shot later for profit.
Then on the other spectrum are the bear enthusiasts who feed bears and allow the animals to coexist with them. Think cat lovers who feed twenty strays in a neighborhood, but with bears. While I love animals as much as the next, this sounds like cases of animal hoarding. And to hoard animals can be dangerous and unhealthy for both humans and animals alike. Take for instance the tragic death of a Colorado woman who built a fence around her property to feed the bears. Now, there's another woman in Mendocino who has been living with bears in a similar way. You have to wonder what triggers this need to collect animals. I'll be researching this topic too, if you haven't already guessed it.
Many bear topics in the news, and whether or not I'll allude to all or any of them in my novel, we'll see. One thing is certain, bears fascinate me. I respect and fear them, which could be why I have never gone camping.
Have a happy and safe Halloween.
