Automatic Weapons update

I haven't been running the last few weeks. Call it my summer coma. When winter turns to spring, I am full of energy, and need to be outside every minute of every day. After a few weeks, the excitement of the sun wears off a bit, and I just want to lay around.

The laziness wore off this week, and I finally made it back out to the park where I run. I was still curious to find out what prompted the police to show up with automatic weapons a few weeks ago, so I found the park employee I had talked to a few weeks ago, and asked her what she had learned. Unfortunately, there wasn't much of an update. But she did say that a day or two later, management sent down some flyers about "dangerous animals" and a "what to do if" type checklist. She speculated that somebody reported seeing some sort of animal, and that they didn't want to take any chances.

Was she telling me a story? Or was it the truth? I don't know. I thought they would call the park rangers instead of the police if there was an animal to be caught. But there were no signs posted around the park warning us about dangerous people or animals. So it is hard to tell.

When I was done with my run, I was walking to the spot where I stretch. This area is close to the big "kid zoo." The park has a big jungle gym setup on the side of a hill. It looks like one of those McDonalds play areas, but about 10 times bigger. Anyway, a mom was trying to get her two young daughters to come out of the tree area to go to the car. When the kids were ignoring her, the mom said, "You better come out of there. (pause) I hope the bears don't eat you!"

At first I thought it was a mean thing to say to a young child. By lying to the child, and manipulating her feelings, it might scare the child the next time they come out to the park. (It worked though, the kids came out of the wooded area!) But then I thought about the cops with guns I had seen earlier, and then the lack of warnings telling me to stay out of the woods. Should the park warn us if there are dangerous animals in the woods? Should they tell us about the report, and what the cops found? Or is it better to be oblivious, and go play where the bears might eat me?

Tuesday's BunnyCount was high. Somewhere around 15. About half were BabyBunnies. BabyBunnies have no fear of joggers, and won't run away until we are about 10 feet away. But at that critical distance, they run fast, but don't know where to go. Instant entertainment for us joggers!


posted by RICHARD