A few days ago while driving through the D'Arbonne Swamp north of West Monroe, I was treated with a stunning sight. I caught a glimpse of a large animal ahead on the road shoulder, and my first impression was that it must be a hog. As I got closer it became obvious that it was a bear - shiny black and beautiful in the early morning light. He wheeled and ran down the road bank, across a shallow ditch, and into the D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge. Until recent years this encounter would have been nigh on impossible.