Inside<\/p>\n
Warning: Bears are on the move, and confrontations with humans are likely. 7A<\/p>\n
By Tobie Baker<\/p>\n
The Cortez Journal<\/p>\n
When Jennifer Balistreri\u2019s children return to school this year, they\u2019ll have a gigantic tale to share with classmates.<\/p>\n
Last month, Balistreri and her children, ages 7, 9 and 11, were traveling on U.S. 491 from New Mexico to her former rural home in Wyoming. About 17 miles north of Cortez, a 100-pound bear crossed the roadway. She slammed the brakes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t avoid the bear,\u201d said Balistreri. \u201cI hit her on my driver side.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bear was knocked unconscious.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I killed her,\u201d Balistreri recalled, \u201cbut she came to and got up and fell and got up and fell.\u201d<\/p>\n
The injured bear eventually struggled to the side of the road, where it laid down in the grass.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were all in shock,\u201d said Balistreri. \u201cMy kids were upset and crying, and I was just a little worse then they were. I felt absolutely terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several motorists stopped to assist, but it was the kindness of one particular stranger that Balistreri most appreciated. Merle Root, who lives near the scene, offered to escort the children to her farm after law enforcement officials decided to put the bear down.<\/p>\n
\u201cMerle took the kids around her property to show them her farm animals,\u201d said Balistreri. \u201cShe let them feed her horse, Noodle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Root said she heard the tires screeching, and looked up just in time to see the impact.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe good thing is that Jennifer and her kids were fine,\u201d said Root.<\/p>\n
Root said the children expressed concerns, but added that they were somewhat relieved upon learning the wounded bear wasn\u2019t a cub.<\/p>\n
Currently residing near Albuquerque, Balistreri said the silver lining to the tragic incident was revealed through the compassion she witnessed from Root and everyone else who stopped to assist.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t an experience that a city girl like myself was used to,\u201d said Balistreri.<\/p>\n
She added that her and the children were blessed to run across such wonderful people in an emergency situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople even stayed with us when the danger had passed,\u201d she said. \u201cI miss that small town feel. I miss that feeling of a community coming together and embracing a total stranger.\u201d<\/p>\n