Dayoffish

I have the day off, but it's not for fun. I have to be under house arrest from 12 to 5 waiting for the gas company to show up. The best case scenario is that they come at noon, are gone by one, and I can be free to move about and give the dogs a long walk or something. Much more likely is that they arrive at 4:45 after I've been looking outside longingly all day--or better yet, call at 5 to reschedule.

Ah well, at least I can try to do some stuff out of the house before noon, and some stuff in the house after. I had such a fun weekend that I accomplished nothing.

So to keep this post from being tedious, I'll ask for a music/audio suggestion. What should I bring to listen to with my dad on our trip to Yellowstone? I'm bringing at least one Willie Nelson album, and an audio book. (It's 'Assassination Vacation' by Sarah Vowell. I'm hoping it will cover our overlapping interests--his interest in history, mine in all things morbid. I am a bit worried that her voice will drive us both buggy after an hour or so.) What do you suggest for long drives out west?

This just in

Former Bush press secretary Scott McClellon's new book claims Bush sold Iraq war using propaganda instead of truth. Also: Sky blue; water wet.

Daily Zoo Animal: #26, American Black Bear

American black bear Ursus americanus


Black bears are the smallest and most common of the three bear species found in North America. They range from northern Canada to central Mexico in a wide variety of habitats. Their success comes from their broad omnivorous diet, adaptable behavior patterns, and lack of natural enemies. Their main predator is man, but they also do well in the presence of humans, which generally deters other predators such as wolves and mountain lions. Black bears also feed on human refuse and make use of man-made structures as shelter.

Black bears live about 10 years in the wild and up to 30 in captivity. They range in size from about 80 pounds up to 800 for truly huge males. Despite their name, black bears can vary in color from individual to individual, from cinnamon in color to deep blue-black. Rare white black bears are even reported. Human encounters with bears are statistically much more likely to be lethal for the bear. Black bear attacks on humans are extremely rare.

Two American black bears are the newest zoo animals at Zoo New England. Bubba and Smoky (pictured) were orphaned wild bears discovered in Georgia and raised by the good folks at the Appalachian Bear Rescue. Wildlife officials determined that the cubs were unreleasable, and that they would have to be placed at a zoo or euthanized. The two year old brothers are on display in a newly built exhibit at Stone Zoo, on the former location of the polar bear exhibit, where the beloved polar bear Major lived until his death in 2000.

About urban black bears.

More black bear information.

( More pictures of Smoky exploring his new home )