Some New Found Friends

As a new resident in a rural farming community, I was shown a picture of a black bear by a new found friend. Thinking this sighting to be news worthy, I said, "Have you contacted the news media about this? " With a respectful gaze, he informed me that bears were Not uncommon in the area. I thought to myself that I never 'signed up for black bears' when I decided to relocate to Mississippi. Other wildlife experiences have been: watching a stray cat eat a wild rabbit. Stopping on a highway for a baby alligator to safely cross. Being startled by a snake hanging from my back door, and my wife Being shocked to see another snake wrapped around the door nob of our front door. Experiencing a black bear greeting me at the window as I was writing on my computer. Except for the baby alligator, none of these wild life encounters were pleasant ones.