In the winter of 1981 the Memphis Police Department received 11 reports of a bear crossing the road on the south end of Presidents Island near an industrial park. But it’s not all industrial; wild areas on the island are home to an abundance of wildlife. In March, a long-haul truck driver, drove onto the island during the dark, wee hours of the morning. He noticed fog, and began to slow down, but not before hitting something with his bumper. He pulled over and used his flashlight to scan the area. Down an embankment he saw a large, dark figure lying motionless in the grass. It wasn’t a bear, or a dog, or even a person, but… it was definitely dead. He heard something running through the forest at great speed; breaking tree limbs along the way. Before he could run, the man was grabbed by the shoulder from behind, and lifted off the ground. He could feel his bones breaking and was in excruciating pain. Now he could clearly see the beast, but this one was several times bigger than the one he’d hit. Terrified of certain death, the man was surprised when the hairy creature dropped him, went to the smaller one, and stroked its head as if she was its mother. When she lifted her motionless child, and disappeared into the woods, the man flagged down help. Fearing he would be seen as crazy, he lied to everyone saying he’d been attacked by a bear. But, one person knew better, and for the first time since that fateful day, the truth is now being told.
