R.C.M.Bear smallI’ve been goofing off. Instead of writing new Beaver Bluff stories or editing drafts of others, last week I took off to beautiful Victoria, B.C. I had a wonderful time with my friends—and met some new ones. Including this guy. Here’s me and the R.C.M.B. (Royal Canadian Mounted BEAR) who guards the entrance to a Victoria souvenir shop. Yup, with me, if it’s not beavers, it’s bears. Like the T-shirt behind me says, “I’m Canadian, EH!”

But Canadian (R.C.M.B.) bears aren’t the only kind in the news these days. The panda bears in the Edinburgh zoo have been getting some press too. Because it’s (ahem) that time again. Mating time. Apparently pandas have trouble getting “in the mood.” Since female pandas are only fertile a couple of days a year, the clock is ticking. I heard it through the grapevine (okay, it was this article in The Huffington Post ) that Edinburgh zookeepers have their radio station playing Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On” in an effort to get something happening. (I might have suggested Michael Bublé—but then, I’m Canadian. Maybe Scots—and their pandas—aren’t into Crazy Love.)

And if you can bear one more quick bear story—here’s a video of a bear waving goodbye. Bye for now!

P.S. What song would you play to make your panda passionate?

4 Responses to Me and the R.C.M.B.

  1. From time to time, bears wander across the border into Switzerland, and usually it doesn’t take long and they get shot – just recently the bear called “M13” was shot down because it got too close to a playground.

    • judymillar says:

      Yes, that’s sad, Melanie. On Vancouver Island they wander into populated places too in search of food (esp. if people have left garbage unsecured.

  2. Beth says:

    Bear – The Antlers
    Bear Cage – The Stranglers
    Bear Cat – Rufus Thomas
    Bear Face – Abe Vigoda
    Bear Hug – Fun Lovin Criminals
    Bear Necessities – The Jungle Book
    Dancing Bear – The Mamas & The Papas
    Grizzly Bear – The Youngbloods
    Little Bear – Guillemots
    Panda Bear – Owl City
    Polar Bear – The Charlatans
    Running Bear – Johnny Preston
    Running Bear – Mud
    Running Bear – George Jones
    Teddy Bear – Elvis Presley
    Teddy Bear – Bad Manners
    Tree Bear – Health

    … or anything by Chuck Berry!