The Bear in the Yard

So today while visiting relatives I find out that one of my semi-distant relatives moved to a rural location at the edge of a national forest. He is not fond of guns at all, but had a change of heart when he met his new neighbor. Guess the real-estate agent failed to mention the Brown Bear that owned the apple tree in their yard.

Yep, owned. At least according to the bear that spends a great deal of time in their yard sleeping and lounging 20 feet from their front door. Now in addition to all the usual bear precautions (spraying trash with ammonia, ringing a bell, being very aware of the bear's presence or absence), he also has to carry a large hand cannon on his property to protect himself if the bear ever tried to evict him.

This is both a spiritual hassle and a logistic one, since guests also must wear the hand cannon when they visit if they plan to be outside. He was not specific, but I am guessing from the description that he referred to a .460 or .500 revolver of some sort (definitely a hand howitzer).

Personally, I would blame the real-estate agent and ask him or her to speak to the bear. Or maybe move the bear to the real-estate agent's home. Or even move the tree to another location.

But in the mean time, the howitzer is a no-brainer, even if it is a hassle.