The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LOCAL LEGEND: THE THREE BEARS (THE MOTHER AND HER TWO CUBS)

AN ENORMOUS FOREST FIRE BROKE OUT ON THE WISCONSIN SIDE OF LAKE
MICHIGAN. A MOTHER BEAR AND HER TWO CUBS WERE FORCED TO SWIM
TOWARD THE MICHIGAN SIDE TO ESCAPE THE FLAMES. SHORTLY BEFORE
THE TWIN CUBS REACHED THE MICHIGAN COAST NEAR LELAND, THEY GREW
EXHAUSTED AND DROWNED. THE MOTHER BEAR, A STRONGER SWIMMER,
REACHED LAND FIRST AND, UNAWARE OF HER CUBS' FATE, FELL INTO A
DEEP SLUMBER TO AWAIT THEIR ARRIVAL. THE CUBS NEVER ARRIVED,
BUT CAN BE SEEN FROM THE SHORELINE AS NORTH AND SOUTH MANITOU
ISLANDS. THE BEAR STILL SLEEPS; THE ENORMOUS SANDY BLUFFS TO
THIS DAY ARE KNOWN AS SLEEPING BEAR DUNES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TRAVERSE CITY

Date learned: NOT GIVEN