Jewel up close and personal - Jan 18, 2012
Jewel raking bedding - Jan 18, 2012Maybe Jewel will hold out until Sue’s birthday on the 20th. That would make the date easy to remember, and the birth dates would all be in a row for the 3 years—January 22 in 2010, January 21 in 2011, and January 20 in 2012. Something is going to happen sometime.
Preschooler Den Watch Data Sheet
Jewel backed up past the camera at 1:45 PM—we believe to either defecate or urinate. Defecation is more likely because urine is recycled during hibernation. While it is possible for some bears to go all winter without defecating, it’s not unusual to find scat near the entrance of dens—especially females with new cubs. It was evident from the view she gave us as she backed out that something will happen. We’re hoping for 2 cubs.
Some have wondered how Jewel could be in labor this long. Jewel isn’t in active labor. At times she’s very uncomfortable and may be having contractions, but she wouldn’t be sleeping so soundly for long periods of time if she was in active labor. Perhaps any contractions she is having at this point are similar to the Braxton Hicks contractions some women have in the final stages of pregnancy.
In North Carolina, pre-school age ‘Junior Den-Watchers’ are recording data from Jewel’s Den Cam similar to the data nearly 100 official Den-Watchers are recording. This group of bright 4-year-olds is learning valuable skills of observation, patience, and data recording.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center