I'm sure, Sisters and Brothers, that some of you have heard about a bear breaking into a home and eating chocolate while ignoring other food in the house. If not, here is a link to a brief article about it. This happens in San Antonio Heights, California just a few days ago but it is not the only time that bears have stolen chocolate.
A similar incident was reported in Aspen, Colorado, in 2004 in this article
A bear broke into a New Jersey mini van to take some chocolate in 2007 according to this article.
This is certainly not a rash of thievery among bears nor it is a trend with bears eating chocolate but it did surprise me to find similar events three times on a basic search on Google.
But should it surprise me?
Bears are omnivores, they eat a wide range of foods. Given that all of these bears lived near human habitats it is not unlikely that they would not have found chocolate in trash or even just tossed out during hikes or camping trips. We know that cocoa affects the human mind and for some of us can cause a strong desire for chocolate. I doubt anyone has studied the effects on bears but what if it has a similar affect on them? If that's true, it would be reasonable that a bear might recognize more chocolate and want it.
Or perhaps it's merely chance and because we human beings so love chocolate it makes the news.
Guard your Sacred Substance, Sisters and Brothers, never throw it away casually and be wary of giving it out too freely or you may create the next bear chocolate thief. Let me post fair warning to all the bears and other critters who may want my chocolate... Back Off!
Sisters and Brothers, may you too take the time to slowly appreciate what the Divine and human ingenuity have offered you in chocolate.
If you are reading in the eastern half of the Midwest, don't forget The Chocolate Cult's first CONTEST.
