Out-Of-Season Bear Alert

I don't know if this warrants a 9-1-1 call or what, but to this blog's readers here in Rockingham County, North Carolina:

Be advised that a large black bear was spotted by Yours Truly on Vernon Road not far from Rockingham Community College earlier this evening.

Yeah, I'm certain it was a bear. At first I wondered if it might be a large black dog instead. Until I saw its face and muzzle. It's a bear all right.

It was acting a bit lethargic. Walking on all fours with its head going from side to side. Maybe he (or she) had just woken up from hibernation and was looking for a mid-winter snack?

Anyway, now y'all know. There's a bear somewhere around Vernon Road.

Ummm... don't tease it?

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"Pastry Poacher" lured bear to death with donuts, fined $7000

A hunter named Charles Olsen has been hit with a $7000 fine after being found guilty of violating game and wildlife laws, after illegally shooting and killing a bear.

It's how Olsen led the unwitting bear to its doom that particularly raises eyebrows: with a trail of donuts.

From the story...

Charles Olsen, 39, who has been nicknamed the 'Pastry Poacher', was found guilty of violating game laws after he lured the creature with the sweet treats and illegally shot it.

He first attracted the attention of a Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer when he was spotted driving his truck, which was loaded with pastries, on a highway just one week before the start of bear season.

Charles Olsen was fined after luring the bear with doughnuts and then shooting it.

The wildlife officer then reported Mr Olsen's truck license number to bear check stations.

Officer Cory Bentzoni is quoted as saying: 'Being that we were so close to bear season, seeing that person drive by with an unusual amount of pastries was like watching an individual go down a row of parked vehicles testing each handle to see if it would open.

'Something just didn't seem right.'

In addition to the fine, Olsen is also looking at losing his hunting privileges for the next three years.

I can't figure out why the cops at the donut shop weren't already suspicious of him to begin with...

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