As the summer continues to slowly roll into view, a great many Americans are finalizing their plans for some sort of fun in the sun. Vacation is the name of the game for the USA this time of year, with Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day all just a matter of weeks away.  For some, it’s the beach.  For others, a trip to a new city to explore, eat, drink, and be merry may be in the cards. If solitude is more your thing, you might find yourself heading to a seclude cabin up in the mountains somewhere, to convene with nature and clear your head with the crisp air of a higher elevation. But even in this relative peace and quiet, American vacationers may still find themselves with some unexpected excitement. On May 3, around 11 a.m. Elizabeth Strickland and her boyfriend awoke in their Gatlinburg cabin to find some unexpected company on the property – three black bear cubs. “I saw one walk around a corner of the porch, and I ran into the bedroom to look out the windows at the hot tub and there they were!” the Knoxville woman told WKRN. The photos from Strickland’s close encounter are incredible. https://twitter.com/komonews/status/1124886436136792064 https://twitter.com/wsyx6/status/1124846169987772416 As cute as these photos appear, authorities have taken this opportunity to remind Americans that bears of any size or species are dangerous, wild animals, and should not be approached at any time.

Americans are animal lovers, by and large, and stories of our unique relationship with these creatures has been well documented in the past. As a nation of explorers and farmers, we have spent centuries in the presence of animals; from livestock to lapdogs, and venison to vermin.  Of the myriad creatures that we interact with on a regular basis, nothing is more iconic than the dog.  After all, this is an animal whose very existence stems from the influence of the human species on the wolf species some 10,000 years ago. Dogs are no longer the wild creatures that their ancestors were, and, as such, hold a special place in our collective heart.  That’s why a group of hikers in California couldn’t resist an opportunity to help a young pup with they found her abandoned on their walk. Now, however, they have a whole different story to tell. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the man was walking his dog when he spotted what he thought was an abandoned puppy. The hiker picked the animal up and took it home, where he called the San Diego Humane Society. Wildlife officers then went to the man’s home, where they examined the animal. “Our Humane Officers recently received a call about an abandoned puppy in a canyon in Tierrasanta. To their surprise, the little creature was actually a coyote pup!” explained the San Diego Humane Society, in a Facebook post. “The officers took the adorable pup to Project Wildlife for care before being transferred to The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center.” The tiny canid is now in good hands. Rehabilitation is ongoing and, despite some challenges, wildlife experts are hopeful that this young coyote can be released back into the wild at an appropriate time.