On Thanksgiving Day, a black bear cub partakes of Gloria Cunningham’s pumpkin pie. Robert Cunningham photo

Bears are still out and about, trying to put on more pounds for a long winter’s night.

One young bear may spend the winter enjoying sweet dreams of a special Thanksgiving Day treat.

Robert Cunningham was on his cell phone when he pulled up to his home at Mile 3 on Eyak Lake, and noticed the screen was off a downstairs window.  

He opened the door to discover a small black bear cub atop the freezer partaking of the family’s Thanksgiving Day pies.

The bear was so thoroughly enjoying Robert’s wife Gloria’s specialties that Robert decided to document the event.

“He seemed to like the pumpkin one better,” said Robert. “Maybe the apple one was too spicy or tart.”

Advertisement

The little bruin was quite fastidious, licking the filling out of the pumpkin pie without touching the crust.

Their son, Robert, who stands 7 feet tall, was startled when he walked into the room. Seeing his long-anticipated dessert being slurped down, he grabbed a shovel and chased the interloper out the window. 

This, you may recall, is the famous young Cunningham that stopped a brown bear sow that was charging him on a beach near Softuk a few years back with a punch to chops.

The story became legend in a Cordova Times feature titled “Local Cordova fishermen scores TKO on brown bear.”

Luckily, Gloria had a couple more pies cooling on the railing upstairs, although Robert said they were more cautious and chased off squirrels and birds that were looking to indulge in some of their Thanksgiving special too.

Ironically, none of the pies were of the berry variety — which would have made for a literary delight (“bear has berry Thanksgiving”) — but word spread rapidly and smiling guests showed up with plenty of desserts to help. 

So, in a way, the little bear helped make this Cunningham Thanksgiving special, with much to laugh about and more pie than ever.

Advertisement
Previous articleHave plow, will travel
Next articleBOF takes up Bristol Bay salmon issues
Dick Shellhorn
Dick Shellhorn is a lifelong Cordovan. He has been writing sports stories for the Cordova Times for over 50 years. In his Cordova Chronicles features, he writes about the history and characters of this Alaska town. Alaska Press Club awarded Shellhorn first place for Best Humor column in 2016 and 2020, and third place in 2017 and 2019. He also received second place for Best Editorial Commentary in 2019. Shellhorn has written two books about Alaska adventures: Time and Tide and Balls and Stripes. Reach him at dshorn44@gmail.com.