You know you're back in the Northwoods when...

Two weeks after moving back here to the Northwoods we had something tear into our garbage (which we intelligently were keeping just outside the back door) and drag a bag out behind the garage. After checking everything out my husband said that it was most likely a bear. I only halfway believed him, and hadn't been too bothered by it.

note: his area of expertise happens to be natural resources and he knows a lot about the wildlife around here and he knows his animal tracks...

Every night before we go to bed he's been checking out the woods behind our house and across the street. I've been watching him and been slightly amused. I wasn't too worried.

Last night and the night before all the dogs in the neighborhood were barking. And our big dog was on the (enclosed and within the fence) porch whining (she's a big chicken). And I started thinking that he was probably right about the bear. There has definitely been something lurking around the neighborhood at night. To be clear - it's not much of a traditional city neighborhood. There is about 5 or 6 houses around us, but there is much more space between them than in a city. Three of the houses are behind the wooded area behind our house - we can't even see the houses. But still I only half believed that there's been a bear around here.

In the little over 2 years we'd lived up here (before the whole moving to Iowa fiasco) I had only seen a bear 3 or 4 times. All of my sightings were at least 15 miles from our house.

That was until tonight.

We were on our way home - about 4 blocks from the house - when a little black bear cub came shooting across the highway. You know his mama wasn't far behind. We didn't see her though.

So now I have to admit to my husband and myself that it was most likely a bear in our garbage. And a bear that's been lurking around here at night. I won't be going anywhere after dark! :)
Not a chance.