Tales of surprising wildlife encounters
In the distance, about a half mile off, it looked as if a log were floating across the lake. Then the log moved; from that distance, we figured a golden retriever was out for a swim.
Except that there was no boat in the area. No person was on shore throwing sticks.
It didn’t take long to see this was no dog. At 100 yards from my boat, where we putted along at the speed of a slow walk, the “dog” lifted its head. Its ears were outlined against the tourmaline water. Then it turned and swam toward us, its long snout clearing the surface.
It was a bear, a California black bear, colored dark cinnamon, and it was taking the most direct route — in the water — to cross the lake.
We moved to give the bear plenty of room. It churned through the lake, taking its time — “I’m a bear, I do what I want.” We were about a quarter mile away when it emerged ashore and then disappeared into the forest. This was at Iron Canyon Reservoir in California’s north state, but the lessons we learned could apply anywhere in national forests across California and the western U.S. as Memorial Day weekend and the summer- vacation season loom.
Bring a good camera: This trip wasn’t supposed to be for a story, but rather the idea was a Mother’s Day picnic on my boat last Sunday afternoon; maybe throw out a few lines while enjoying the day at a remote lake with a campground. Then Mr. Bear appeared and the best we could do was try to take some photos with our smartphones to try to capture this rare and exciting moment. I have several thousand dollars worth of pro-quality camera and video equipment, and it was back at home. Never again. You don’t see it coming: What happens over and over to people is that they will be in nature, that is, out to hike, bike, boat, fish or wildlife watch, and then something suddenly emerges they didn’t expect. You can plan your trips, but you can’t plan the encounters that await you. It’s like fishing: The only guarantee is you won’t catch anything if you don’t go.
We were out last Sunday from about 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., the worst time to fish or see wildlife. Yet we caught and released about 10 trout. We saw deer, squirrels and chipmunks on land, mergansers, blue herons and ospreys on the water and in the air, and a bear, of all things, swimming across the lake.
It always seems to work like this: a chance for a surprise on every trip. Even in a boat. Wayward deer: Out of Bodega Bay, on a salmon fishing trip with fishing pioneer Dick Pool, we cruised out of the harbor, and then about 2 miles out, sighted a deer, of all things, swimming out to sea. We radioed the Coast Guard, which sent a cutter for the rescue. The Coast Guard crew put a blanket over the deer and brought it aboard the bow of the boat, and headed back to port. The deer was released on land, but it went right back into the water. It then swam out of the harbor into the open ocean, and as far as we know, just kept going. Surprise around the bend: In British Columbia, when I did the Bowron Lakes canoe circuit, 75 miles through a connected route of 13 lakes, six rivers and seven portages, one day we paddled around a shoreline point in my canoe — and were stunned to see a mother moose with a calf swimming past us within 20 feet. The mother snorted at us. We sure didn’t plan on anything like that, but just by being out there, found ourselves surprised by an amazing wildlife encounter. Swimming laps: In the Marble Mountain Wilderness in the north state, my idea was to return to a meadow near Monument Lake where we’d see signs of elk, and then trace out the game trails. On the way in, from the ridge trail above the lake, I looked down and saw like 30, 40 elk, several with big racks, swimming around the small lake. It was like nothing I could have imagined or expected (and too far away for a photo).
Over the years, across every type of landscape habitat, I’ve had hundreds of unexpected encounters like this. It’s the exact opposite of television, video games and cell phones, in which you push buttons and get a predictable outcome.
Spend enough time out there and you won’t know what you might see next. Like where you see a bear, moose, elk or deer swimming across or lake, or even out to sea.
And when you pack your gear for your next trip, don’t forget your best camera.