Blog readers........this has been a challenging and active year in our quest for North American rewilding and habitat connectivity...........Like every year, we face strong opponents who have financial agendas that ring loudly in State and Federal conference rooms and boardrooms across the Continent...............We fight the good fight and with enough resolve, smarts and focus, we can prevail for the benefit of all living creatures(including the folks who oppose our goals)............With all that said, a little end of year humor and good cheer is necesary and welcome to recharge our batteries............A good friend and relentless fighter for the environment and its top predators sent me a truly funny Christmas and Holiday message(below) that I hope will bring you the same bellylaugh that it brought to me......Enjoy "BEAR GUN"

Bear Gun .... Small, yes, but properly employed,  very effective.   My personal favorite bear defense gun  has always  been my Beretta Jetfire in .22 short! I've found over the years when hiking  in bear country  I never leave home without it. While other hikers haul around  heavy large caliber  rifles I dont even notice it in my pocket. Of course we all know the first  rule when hiking in  the wilderness is to use the "Buddy System". For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this  it means you NEVER hike alone, you bring a friend  or companion, even an in-law. That way if something happens  there is someone to  go get help. I remember one time hiking  with my brother-in-law  in northern British Columbia . Out of nowhere came this  huge brown bear and boy  was she MAD! We must have been near  one of her cubs. Anyway, if I had not had my little Jetfire with me  I'm sure I wouldnt be here today. That's right, one shot to my brother-in-law's knee cap and I was able to escape by just walking at a brisk pace. Its one of the best pistols in my safe! Get Yurself one, Happy Holidays &Merry Christmas to all of you