Inside
Warning: Bears are on the move, and confrontations with humans are likely. 7A
By Tobie Baker
The Cortez Journal
When Jennifer Balistreri’s children return to school this year, they’ll have a gigantic tale to share with classmates.
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.
“I couldn’t avoid the bear,” said Balistreri. “I hit her on my driver side.”
The bear was knocked unconscious.
“I thought I killed her,” Balistreri recalled, “but she came to and got up and fell and got up and fell.”
The injured bear eventually struggled to the side of the road, where it laid down in the grass.
“We were all in shock,” said Balistreri. “My kids were upset and crying, and I was just a little worse then they were. I felt absolutely terrible.”
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.
“Merle took the kids around her property to show them her farm animals,” said Balistreri. “She let them feed her horse, Noodle.”
Root said she heard the tires screeching, and looked up just in time to see the impact.
“The good thing is that Jennifer and her kids were fine,” said Root.
Root said the children expressed concerns, but added that they were somewhat relieved upon learning the wounded bear wasn’t a cub.
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.
“It wasn’t an experience that a city girl like myself was used to,” said Balistreri.
She added that her and the children were blessed to run across such wonderful people in an emergency situation.
“People even stayed with us when the danger had passed,” she said. “I miss that small town feel. I miss that feeling of a community coming together and embracing a total stranger.”
