When people were talking about seeing a creature that was big with human-like limbs,
walking around the garden on its back legs, he laughed and dismissed it as a hoax but what was
about to take place would change not only him, but the whole of New Jersey for years to come.
Steven was a New Jersey police officer for most of his life. In that time, he investigated plenty
of interesting cases. But he had never come across one like this, about a creature that
became deeply personal. His work consumed a lot of his time, time spent away from the family
that needed him so desperately. With a wife and small daughter at home, he needed the money to
fight the battle that was looming at home. Working at a police station isn't all high
intensity, prank callers, and strange calls often come down the line. In 2014, the first call came
through announcing that a bear-like figure walking straight up across a grassy park and rockaway
township had been seen. Dismissing it as nonsense, Stephen carried on with more pressing police work.
He couldn't have known that this situation was about to become a high-profile case.
As more and more people called in to relate the same strange occurrence, he knew he had
to just see for himself. A quick trip in the patrol car to the latest, whereabouts of this
oddity of nature and he would know the truth. Was the tale from his childhood True? Was Bigfoot
real, only seeing with his own eyes would make him believe the impossible. He had always loved
animals, living in New Jersey all his life he'd seen bear Cubs in the woods often as a child.
People swore it was the truth, but why would a bear walk like that? Was it really just
a bear suited, silly teenager, running amuck? Or was it something more sinister, either way he
had to get to the bottom of this mystery. Arriving at the location, he came to an awful realization.
At the verge of a residential home something was at odds with nature,
something never before seen! What appeared to be a black bear walking as straight as any man does.
He pulled out his cell phone to record this amazing animal and noticed that this bear
was special. It was not at all afraid of him! For a moment, both man and bear stood, stalk,
still! Finding a moment of singularity and brotherhood between them.
Never had he anticipated the connection that would develop between him and this strange being.
Back at home his young daughter was struggling. She was barely six years old and fighting a
string of severe inner ear infections. She walked with an unusual gate too, just as the bear did.
She was often called clumsy because of her problems with balance. Steven understood only
now that something amazing was a foot, the paths of the bear and the man had crossed for a reason.
Conflicted about leaving what he had found out there in the wild, left him feeling apprehensive,
something just wasn't adding up. But Steven had to leave. He had to get home to help his
daughter. He had a notion that things would get worse before they got better, but he couldn't get
the image of this strange bear out of his mind. Why was it walking like a man? As media attention
for the walking bear grew. Steven decided to keep an eye on the creature that had touched
a special place in his heart. He avidly followed up on any sightings of the young bear and tried
to visit as often as time would allow. Even though the fondly named Pedals defined by his
unique walking gate was becoming famous. Steven still believed there was something
about this special bear. He felt the need to protect him, but what made him feel this way?
He still did not understand! Now that Pedals was a star more and more authorities were becoming
involved and an important discovery was made. Pedals was injured. His paws were so sore that
he just couldn't bear to walk on all fours. And that's why he had developed his humanlike
gate. The sweet comical beast was incapable of living a normal bear life.
Stephen knew he had to do something for the bear, but what? Stephen vowed to do something
to better Petal's life. He asked his wife how he could help a bear after all he was police.
She promised to think on the matter, he himself wondered how exactly to help his beloved friend,
what could he do? How do you help a wild creature? The answer was closer than he
thought. At his wife's suggestion, Steve began to draft a petition online urging New Jersey
division of fish and wildlife officials to take pets to a safer nature reserve.
The petition grew and grew, and the story exploded on social media and the news.
The community had grown to love this bear. Everyone wanted him to be safe and happy, but
then something unexpected happened. Steve, having to spend more and more time in the hospital,
couldn't see his idolized bear, when suddenly the unthinkable happened. Pedals vanished with winter
looming, Steven and the community at large worried that they may never see their big foot again.
Could an injured bear survive a New Jersey winter? It wasn't long before their fears were realized.
Just when all hope was lost, that he would ever be seen again. A delighted Steven heard that
Petal’s had once again been cited. Everything seemed like it was going well. His daughter was
recovering from her latest infection and Petal’s looked healthier than ever. But impending doom was
on the horizon and no one could have foretold the terrible events that were about to unfold.
In October 2016, just as Steven's daughter suffered a crushing blow to her health,
Pedals was announced to have passed away. Such a terrible event destroyed Steven's confidence
and all hope for the future. It was too much to take in, Pedals was gone and his daughter
was clinging to consciousness. Depression had truly overcome Steven; work lost its luster and
family life was always wrought with emotion. Then thankfully, something amazing happened.
A new course of antibiotics was administered to his daughter and she seemed to be responding
well! At the same time, a community United and did the unthinkable to make sure that Pedals spirit
was honoured. With over 9,000 supporters coming from Steve's petition, a new law came into play.
Pedals became a black bear ambassador for all black bears. His life rallied a community to
enforce a law that will see the end of bear hunts for five years and implement a non-lethal bear
control program. The law is aptly named Pedals law and Pedals has become a hero,
but the amazing news doesn't end there. Stephen encouraged by some good
coming from the passing of the bear that came to symbolize his daughter's plight was
seeing something truly remarkable happening. His daughter had won the fight against the disease,
which had caused her so much pain. And just as Pedals could, she too could now walk again.
As life returned to its custom routine, Steven found it easier to become more involved with the
wildlife around his town. He had a new passion for life and having a healthy daughter allowed
him more time and finances to educate people. He just had to find out how to make his voice heard.
While Pedals had been alive, he had fascinated the world with his unusual walking style.
Amazingly, this was his adaptation from having damaged front pause. His sweet name comes from
the word B-Pedal, which means to walk on two legs, just like people. Pedals had captured the hearts
of an entire community and in doing so, he had changed the way black bears were seen forever.
Pedals, not only ensured that black bears in New Jersey are safe, but he also showed
a determination that everyone just like Steve should take to heart. Celebrate your differences,
overcome adversity, and come together to make a difference for all the beings like Pedals.