Well Understood!

Laney and the Bear Coming to an Understanding

You better believe in cross species communication when there's an angry bear with a message charging you.


“Theory of mind” (often abbreviated “ToM”) is described by Wikipedia as: the ability to attribute mental states—beliefs, intents, desires, pretending, knowledge, etc.—to oneself and others and to understand that others have beliefs, desires, intentions, and perspectives that are different from one's own.

Yup! There is plenty of debate whether animals have theory of mind, which animals have one, to what extent they have them, and what exactly constitutes a ToM. There are lots of scientists doing ToM tests on animals ranging from crows, dolphins, dogs, voles chimps, pigeons to humans.

Some researchers are sure they have evidence of ToM in a given species. Others are convinced they don't. Sometimes the studies conflict.

Some scientists hold that other animals besides humans act primarily or only on instincts. They think no animal other than man has a “true” theory of mind. I think those guys are in the dark ages, though.

I've always just dealt with the animals, seen what I've seen and felt what I've felt.

Many times I've felt they have understood my position and I theirs. Animals let us know their intentions. This is especially apparent if you know what to look for. I believe there is a universal, basic communication of intentions that transcends species. I don't know if scientist would call this theory of mind, but that's my take on it.

My most exciting experience with cross-species communication happened to me a number of years ago. On a nice spring day, I was walking with my dog Laney in the woods. We were in Franconia, New Hampshire. The leaves were not yet out on the trees. I was admiring the early blooming plants on the forest floor.

I heard crashing in the woods. I looked in the direction of the noise and saw some small dark objects fleeing through the trees. I thought they were turkeys. Just when I realized the dark running objects were two bear cubs, I heard another crash. I looked up and saw the mother bear in a full on run. I thought she was running away. I quickly realized, though, she was running in a big sweeping arc towards Laney and me.

I had instinctually, upon seeing animals at a run, already reached down and grabbed ahold of Laney's collar so she would not give chase. I was just standing up from doing this when I realized that Laney and I were actually about to be charged by a mama bear. “Hoooooooly shit!” I said as I stood up straight holding on to Laney's collar.

Laney froze. She puffed up her hair, looking twice her normal size. She surprised and pleased me by not barking or growling. Instead her mouth took on the shape of an “O”, like she wanted to say something but thought at the last moment to hold off.

We stood frozen. The bear closed in. Ground between us was falling away rapidly. I could feel my heart pounding in my ears. I wasn't moving or breathing. Laney, the same, just frozen by my side, not moving a muscle.

The mama bear bounced on straight legs to a stop thirty feet out from us. She lowered her head as if to charge but instead of advancing, she just glared at us. An intense look right into our faces. I could not see what Laney did but I lowered my eyes as to not provoke her further. She glared at us a while with out moving then tossed her head around and looked back to where her cubs were running. Then back at us again. We kept still. Then back at the cubs, then back at us, until she was satisfied by the cubs' distance and our stillness.

She backed up a few paces, turned around and ran 100 feet. Stopped. Looked back at us one more time. We still had not moved or even shifted.

She then went to join her cubs who were now out of sight but not ear shot. Laney and I remained frozen in our spots. It was as if the mother bear had told us not to move until we had counted to 100.

When the bear noises finally faded, I let go of Laney's collar. She made no move in the direction of the bears. She had no desire to sniff or go after them.

Wow! Scary but so exhilarating. The communication had been so well understood between three species. The desires and intents crystal clear. Theory of mind or just some damn good instincts, I am grateful for the experience and the outcome

Lovely, smart Laney