Teddy Bears' Picnic

      If you go down to the woods today
      You're sure of a big surprise
      If you go down to the woods today
      You better go in disguise
      For every bear that ever there was
      Will gather there for certain because
      Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic

               Music by John Walter Bratton
               Lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy

     The black bears have been having their picnic in back yards in Atco and Medford.  Bears pilfering from trash cans is pretty common in north Jersey, but it's still a novel site here in the south.  People's reactions to the situation range from fright to delight.  My take on the situation is what goes around comes around.
     In simpler times, people either lived in town or lived on the farm.  Those who lived on the farm were living in the animals' space.  The species ignored each other, for the most part, unless unless a chicken or cow fell victim to hungry wild animals.
     Then came suburban sprawl.  At first the bears and cougars went deeper into the woods.  Now the suburbs have extended into the last remaining woods.  We are living in the animals' back yard, and they are feasting on the contents of our garbage cans.

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/06/08/black-bear-sighting-in-medford-township-nj/
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/18719901/black-bear-spotted-in-atco-new-jersey-neighborhood

     There haven't been any bear sitings in Hainesport, but the turkeys are out of control.  The township hopes to pass an ordinance against feeding the birds at the July 10, 2012 meeting of the township committee.  Feeding the birds encourages large numbers of them to hang out around houses.  A couple of bad eggs in the group behave aggressively, and have begun pecking passersby.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/burlington_county_times_news/hainesport-looking-to-prohibit-wild-turkey-feeding/article_fab9d6f7-6066-50c7-850e-1857a02f4fdb.html

As the saying goes, familiarity breeds contempt.  As the animals lose their fear of humans, and as we grow tired of overturned trash cans and stepping in turkey poop, the clash begins.  We humans should respect that the animals were here first.  We should also be thankful that lions are not indigenous to New Jersey.  Take a look at what's happening in the capital city of Kenya:

http://news.yahoo.com/lions-loose-kenyan-capitals-urban-jungle-073205357.html