The Cinnamon Bear

I try not to get into debates with people about issues that are sensitive, I have opinions on sensitive issues for sure. But I know enough that every time something controversial comes up and people with differing views talk about it, it ends up with someone mad or offended and no one changes their mind, so I keep most of my opinions on real touchy subjects to myself (or I discuss them with my husband, who luckily, shares my opinions on major issues). That isn't going to be the case here. I am going to say something that some people won't like (kind of like my blog on global warming), but OH WELL.

My last blog was about hunting and I meant it when I said that I have no problem with hunters that hunt for the right reasons and do it the right way. If you are getting food for your family or protecting yourself or someone else, I don't have a problem with killing an animal. But killing for a trophy (and doing whatever you have to to get that trophy) I think is just plain ego-driven and sad.

The picture of the dead Cinnamon Bear in the Corning Leader this week was horrible and the editorial by a Caton resident that followed in today's Leader echoed my feelings about the killing of that bear. I think the beautiful and rare bear that was killed in Caton was the one that visited my backyard (I wrote about this bear in an earlier blog). This was the bear that my kids looked forward to seeing and that my husband and I talked about over and over again because he/she was so different. This was the bear that liked spicy food, cream cheese and frozen strawberry fruit bars. And someone killed it because....? They wanted to get their picture in the paper and then get the bear head stuffed and hang on the wall in their living room? I think there are certain animals that should be "off limits". Those that are unique and/or the "big bucks" that obviously have good genes and keep the herd strong. Hunting and killing these animals isn't manly (or otherwise if you aren't a man), it doesn't help the species you are killing and it isn't even a sport. Gun against animal, not a sport anyways, in my opinion (Gasp! Controversial.)

The man that killed the Cinnamon Bear is probably just as pleased as he can be because he bagged a rare Cinnamon black bear, but he killed something beautiful that gave many people in the Town of Corning/Caton area joy. Worth it? Probably for him. That's what stinks about today's society; what feels good to people and makes them happy often takes precedence over everything else. I had to try and explain to my 10-year old son why someone would kill the Cinnamon bear and I didn't have a good, moral explanation. I had to use the discussion as an opportunity to speak about human ego. I'm not sure he understood, but I get that, because I'm not sure I understand either.