re: Two guides mauled in S.E. Alaska on hiking trail

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It's not uncommon for people to clap their hands and say "hey bear" every 100 yards or so. I don't get it really, the bear doesn't speak english.

But I gotta admit I've done it.

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My wife and I sang while we hiked through the brush on the Russian River. And we can't sing for shite. But it was prime bear country with no visibility. At one point there was a terrible odor. Sure enough, we'd hiked very close to a bear on the other side of brush. We didn't see it but other hikers could see us and the bear and told us we'd need to change our underwear if we realized how close we'd been.

I'm living in Florida now and have a mother black bear and 3 cubs hanging around the house. Nice to see but it's keeping me on my toes.