It was one of those spring days when you can really feel the strength of the sun’s respite after a difficult winter. I decided it was a good day to hop in my old car and drive up to Algonquin Park for the day. I’m lucky to both (a) have access to a car and (b) be within driving distance of many beautiful nature reserves like the storied Algonquin Park, refuge for many an artist, writer, and nature lover.

Accessing the park through the Sand Lake Gate, I drove down a long stretch of dirt road toward Traverse Lake. It was a Monday morning and the tree-lined road was nearly empty, save for the occasional park ranger. The snow was gone, and the hardwood trees weren’t yet budding. The drainage ditches along the road were edged with clumps of leafless shrubs.

Suddenly, a black bear loped across the road about one-hundred metres ahead of me and darted into the forest. I slowed down near the point at which I guessed he entered the bush, and after some searching I saw his black coat revealed through the thicket of leafless branches. He had stopped in place just far enough into the forest that we could eye each other.

At this point, I made a strange decision. I rolled down my window and began to sing to the bear. I feel an affinity with bear, like it is my spirit animal. So, I sang a bear song as best I could.

Something amazing happened, and I documented it with my camera. Enjoy!