THE BADGER AND THE BEAR
The Badger and the Bear is an old Indian Legend about father and mother badgers who
have successfully built a cozy home, raised a family, and over the years have a healthy stash of
deer meat due to Father Badger’s great hunting skills. During this process of saving up a surplus
supply of meat, an intruder enters the badger’s dwelling. It is Black Bear, who is very hungry
and looking for a meal. Father and Mother Badger are obliged to share a meal with Black Bear.
They do so and Black Bear, when finished, happily hobbles away stuffed beyond belief.
As a result of the friendly hospitality from family of badgers, Black Bear returns the next day,
then the next day, and so on. With the badgers sharing so often, the bear returns time and time
again, somewhat abusing the badger’s kindness. However, Black Bear takes a turn and threatens
the family with his size and strength and kicks them out of their hard-earned home. Badger
takes his family and has to find a temporary home since Black Bear rudely took over Badger’s
home and food. For this reason, Father Badger has to find new food, but it is too hard so he has
to go to Black Bear and plead for food for his starving family, Black Bear laughs and with the
swipe of his paw, sends Father Badger flying. Badger, angered about this, goes home and prays.
Immediately following the prayer, the “avenger” is sent to help Father Badger with his
complications. The “avenger” and Father Badger set of to get meat from Black Bear.
As Father Badger and the “avenger” approach Black Bear within seeing distance, black
bear notices the avenger’s bow and arrow and immediately offers fresh meat. Although Black
Bear has offered meat to Badger, the avenger is not pleased with Bear’s actions. He tells Black
Bear to take his family and leave Badger’s home for him and his family to move back into. Black
Bear, fearful of the avenger, does so and scampers back into the forest leaving the family of
badgers in their exquisite, well deserved home.
