the DNR's findings at Arundel Mills, this writer spoke with Mr. Horton. Horton stated that his survey of the area revealed a single, suspected bear track. The impression, which had been rained on, measured about 3 inches wide and 6 inches in length. Horton photographed the track and showed it to a Wildlife Division biologist who specializes in bears. According to Horton, the biologist offered a "seventy-three percent certainty" that the print was made by a bear. Mr. Horton felt that the animal sighted by the construction workers was probably the mother of a bear cub that had been struck and killed on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (I-295) in early June of this year⁽¹⁾. However, he also admitted that the solitary bear track was the only physical evidence he found at Arundel Mills.

On Wednesday, August 2nd, Marcus Adams, Tim Arcilesi, and this writer returned to the site (Clark Road) at 12:00 PM for additional information and a daylight view of the area. During that time we took many photographs of the area and spoke with several Anne Arundel County policemen (working as mall security in an off-duty capacity) that work with Officer DiPietro. None of them admitted knowing much more about the incident than what was reported in the papers. However, we did make attempts through two of them to contact Officer DiPietro for more information. As of this writing, those actions have been fruitless.

At 2:00 PM, we left Clark Road and decided to go to the Construction office trailers and find someone in a position of authority who might grant us access to the site for more a more detailed examination. While in the main office, this writer had a brief conversation with Arundel Mills Construction Site Supervisor, Don Stevens (pseudonym). Mr. Stevens said that he also examined the track and offered the opinion that it was made by a bear. Stevens asserted that the track was located on an incline, amidst other normal sized bear prints on level soil, in the far western end of the excavation and appeared to be exaggerated in size as if the animal slipped in its ascent of the hill⁽²⁾. Since bear sightings had previously been reported in areas near Arundel Mills, Stevens also felt that the animal may have been lured into the excavation by food remnants discarded by construction workers⁽³⁾. On behalf of The Enigma Project, this writer asked Mr. Stevens for permission to examined and photograph the area is question. With obvious regret Stevens denied us access to the site stating that he had already taxed insurance regulations to the limit by allowing several TV news crews into the "hardhat" area. Unfortunately, our timing was off since the media gained admission just before we had arrived.

Later that day, while continuing our survey from Clark Road, an unnamed local resident briefly stopped to give us his opinion of the incident. This gentleman, a chap whom we judged to be about 30 years of age, told us that he had lived in the area for many years. He stated that he spent a number of years hiking and hunting through the forest as seen from Clark Road (western view) in Figure 3, and never experienced anything unusual. When we became distracted by a police vehicle that parked behind our own, this man walked to his car and quickly drove away. The police vehicle, we soon discovered, was occupied by, Steve Jones⁽⁴⁾, another off-duty Anne Arundel policeman. He

1. According to Horton, the scene of that accident on I-295 was only a few miles from Arundel Mills.

2. Stevens' statement here does not agree with the "single" track find made by the DNR.

3. Barnhardt, Laura, Baltimore Sun, "Tales of creature are tall on interest, short on details," 8/2/2000.

4. Pseudonym. This officer's name is on file with The Enigma Project.

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