Ursus Americanus Floridanus
They say that if you walk quietly out here you might actually
see a Florida Black Bear. If you do happen to see one, it will
probably run away from you. However, if it doesn’t run away
then you should stand still and don’t panic. Talk to the bear
in a clear calm monotone voice. Say hi blackie how ya doin
what’s your name stuff like that. Heck most likely it
doesn’t speak your language anyway. You really want to
convince the bear that you are human and pro bear and pro bear
habitat. If you’re with friends tell them to keep their
mouths shut, you are doing all the talking. It will only confuse
the bear. Don’t look the bear directly in the eyes. Most
animals think this is a sign of aggression and get angry. You
don’t want to make the bear angry. If you have your camera
dangling from its strap around your neck then raise it very slowly
to your eyes and take a picture. Do not try to get closer, use your
zoom lens or just be glad you can take a picture at a regular
setting. If your camera makes loud clicking noises when the shutter
opens and closes then you probably don’t want to do this. The
bear might not like the noise. If your camera is in your backpack
by all means don’t sling your backpack off and grab the
camera. The bear might think your are reaching for a gun, and take
matters into its own paws. Do not turn tail and run away. You
won’t win a race with the bear. Running away only makes it
think you are dinner leaving the table, and the bear will run you
down. And by all means don’t climb a tree. That is just plain
stupid. Bears climb a whole lot better than you do. Not only that
it will be between you and the ground and with only one way to go
and that is up you are in serious trouble, unless of course you can
fly. If the bear starts huffing and puffing and snorting and pawing
the ground and bouncing on its front paws, it is probably getting
ready to charge. Don’t worry it most likely will be a bluff.
But if it isn’t a bluff, bend over and kiss your you know
what goodbye, ‘cause you are now in big trouble. Remember I
already told you not to turn tail and run away. You’ve
probably seen on TV where you should lie down and play dead. Stupid
stupid stupid. If you do lie down and play dead, you are probably
going to end up as bear food. Which brings me to another thing, do
not feed the bear. Don’t give it your snacks it just makes it
think you are the Mickey Ds of the forest. Fast food. If you stop
feeding it, it will just get mad and eat you. Don’t try to
grin like Davy Crockett. That was a Disney thing. Grinning a bear
won’t do any good. If all else fails and the bear attacks
you, then by all means fight back. At this point you have nothing
to lose, you are probably going to die anyway. If all of this
happens while you have the cache in your hands, just kiss your
cache goodbye. If you do have a bear encounter while you are out
here, and survive it, by all means please write about it in your
online log.
If all of that doesn't scare you and you decide to hunt for this
cache, then be sure to bring your own writing
utensil. Because if you don't write your name in the log
your online log will be deleted.
For the brave soul who finds this cache before anyone else there
are two items in the cache for you. One is an unactivated geocoin
that was given to us by BoJaB. There is also a nice FTF ribbon in
the cache for you. As far as what else is in the cache, well my
memory isn't what it used to be, so I have no idea. This cache was
put together many months ago.