“I sat on a stool next to Growly McFurryPaws at the bar nearest his home. He frequents the bar, he said, because his depression has become too much to handle. ‘I just can’t win, you know? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I know most bears have it rough. We look super scary, and can’t really help our baser instincts. Is it our fault that people are stupid enough to throw rocks at us in national parks, and then act all surprised when we chew on them a bit?’ He took a sip from his double whiskey. ‘But I think it’s particularly difficult being the only bear in the complete works of Shakespeare. There’s a special sort of stress that accompanies that kind of fame.’ He laughed, a hollow emotionless laugh, and corrected himself. ‘I mean to say, infamy.’”

Katie Sisneros talks with the bear whose life was ruined by his cameo in the Guthrie’s Winter’s Tale.