One Dozen Bear Paws

 

A 375-pound black bear was drowning under the Tallac Bridge in South Lake Tahoe. The crowd stood helpless on the shore until Ivan Stepanov, a tourist visiting from Russia, kicked off his shoes and jumped into the water. The bear had wandered into a neighborhood where he was tranquilized by wildlife officers. Then, as officers waited for the sedative to take effect, the bear stumbled into the icy water. Now, with the tranquilizer kicking in, the bear grew too weak to stay afloat. Ivan wrapped his arms under the bear’s neck, holding its head above the water, speaking softly to keep it calm. They both reached the shore, where officers tagged the bear’s ear, checked vitals, and later released it in the Sierra Nevada wilderness. When asked why he risked his life, Ivan shrugged. “In my country,” he replied, “We say a man’s strength is measured by who he chooses to protect. Even if it has claws.”