Da Bears

As I mentioned in the previous post, one of the greatest parts of our honeymoon was the trip to Sand Island. What I didn't mention is that one of the other Apostle Islands we were considering visiting was deemed off-limits due to an infestation of those pesky black bears.

I just assumed that these bears got to these islands by walking across the lake when it was frozen. But it turns out that black bears are really good swimmers.

It just so happens that awhile back a friend of mine (who prefers to remain anonymous, but let's just say we have a first and middle name in common) also visited Bayfield and the Apostle Islands. He also figured that the bears walked across the ice to get the islands. When my friend ("Mike D") asked the park ranger if this was indeed the case, she looked at him like he was an idiot. She treated him like he had just asked her the dumbest question ever. Well, better him than me, because I would have asked the same question!

So the challenege for all you Encyclopedia Browns out there is this: why is "Mike D's" question so ludicrous and the waste of a park ranger's time?

And in the meantime, how about those swimming bears!