By Tim Binnall
A Christmas display outside of a residence in Nevada is less one Rudolph after the inflatable reindeer wound up on the wrong end of a battle with a bewildered bear. According to a local media report, the peculiar incident occurred last Saturday in the community of Zephyr Cove, where homeowner Dave Lester had recently kicked off the holiday season by putting up some decorations in his front yard. Alongside inflatable versions of Santa, an elf, and a Christmas tree was the iconic red-nosed reindeer, which apparently looked close enough to the real thing that it wound up becoming the target of a bear passing through the neighborhood.
Recounting his discovery of the 'carnage' left behind from the encounter, Lester wrote on Facebook that he "woke up this morning to Rudolph laying on the ground unresponsive. No amount of CPR or duct tape could revive him." A subsequent check of his home security camera showed the amusing moment when the bear attempted to maul the inflatable reindeer, which displayed such remarkable resiliency that it seemed to leave the creature rather confused. Despite repeatedly pawing and biting at the piece and even taking it to the ground, Rudolph continuously pops back up to a standing position until the aggressive animal finally gives up the fight.
While the inflatable reindeer may have put on a 'brave face' during the bear attack, as Lester noted, the battle wounds ultimately proved to be too much for the piece. Why, exactly, the animal chose to only go after Rudolph and not the other inflatable Christmas characters on the front lawn is a mystery. That said, the homeowner suggested that the animal's Grinch-like behavior could have been the culmination of an odd grudge that began last year with "a couple stare downs" between the bear and the decoration. This year, Lester mused, "for some reason he just figured he was going to make a meal out of Rudolph."