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.