先日、日本在住のアメリカ人の知人から次のようなメッセージが届いた。(原文のまま)

Hi Akira! I just heard on NHK news last about a woman hike (61 years old)

who was killed by a bear while 山菜 picking in Akita (?) It seems that bears

are no longer afraid of bells ringing on hikers. Any ideas? Suggestions what

to do?

普段感じていることを次のように拙い英語で返信した。

Hi. It’s a sad news. In my case I don’t carry a bell with me on the trail in the mountain.

I don’t like the bell sound not only because it strikes my ears but also I can’t enjoy atmosphere

and sound of the nature. In Akita case she this year or they last year, they are not hikers and go

into the bush where bears also picking up edible wild plants not walk on the trail.

I think ringing bells is good but it’s not enough. People seem to think ringing bells makes you

safe and don’t pay attention to surroundings. I think it’s very dangerous. Specialists say tha

t some bears especially little ones are interested in the sound of bells and come up to. I think

people should pay much attention to surroundings, listening to and looking around and smelling

the woods in the mountain. When having a bad feeling, you keep distance or stop coming up to it

and go away from it. People should feel that bears are there！

そしてこうメッセージが返ってきて、考えていることが伝わったかな、と思った。

Akira, you are very wise and that sounds like great advice. Thank you so much.

クマさんの落とし物　２０１４年７月８日撮影