Bears in the Dumpster

Bears in the dumpster. [ ID #1786343 ]Word Count 404

I worked nights at a nursing home and was charge nurse that particular night. One of the nursing assistants had gone out for her break. She wasn’t outside very long until she came running in and shouting, anxiously. “There are bears in the dumpster!” I was thinking she had been smoking marijuana on break. I reluctantly left my work and went outside. Sure enough, there was a big momma bear standing by the dumpster one cub. Suddenly a second cub popped its head out from under the refuse. They all peered at me, like I was interrupting their midnight snack. I backed into the building and proceeded to call the police. Thinking if I would report this to them they would contact the wildlife authorities.

An hour went by, a police car comes quietly into the back parking lot, where the dumpster was located, stopped the officer gets out of the car. Three other police and deputy cars drove up. The first officer that arrived put his hands on his hips, looked at me, and smiled then said, “yup them’s bears.” The cops all left.

Standing at the door I wondered what kind of public servants we had hired with our tax money. After contacting the facility director I found a number to call for the Game and Wildlife Department.  They needed to know about this event. Steps need to be taken to prevent the bears from getting into the dumpsters.

We had to be concerned about our patient’s safety. I also thought that the officers might be more watchful of the neighborhood surrounding the nursing home. Sometimes at night patients wander, they are confused. I was concerned that one might get out and wonder around to that area. They could approach the bears and get themselves injured or killed. We were doubly watchful that night of the doors and exits making sure everything was secure twice as often as required and keeping a watchful eye on the bears. Finally, about five that morning, when the morning kitchen workers drove up, the bears sauntered their way back into the woods. Our administrator arrived and had maintenance come in to place a lock on the dumpsters so that wouldn’t happen again. He also made a call to the Police Chief then closed his office door. I think he had a few words to say to him about his officers that night.



WORD COUNT 404

unt 404