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9-11, Ted, Cub Names, and Mapping - UPDATE September 11, 2014

Ted checking out his denTed checking out his denOn this 13th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on American soil, we honor the brave work of the firemen who responded and honor those who died. We only hope we can prevent it from ever happening again.

On a happier note, it’s time to name the rest of this year’s 25 cubs (14 males, 11 females).

Thirteen of them already have names. Juliet’s three cubs were named Ray, Bernard, and Charlie. However, upon close examination on July 19, Sue Mansfield determined that Charlie was actually a female. We are lucky Charlie is a name used for both males and females!

The Krauses named the cubs they know as follows:

11-year-old Colleen (Donna’s daughter) has a male named Dash (a white dash on the chest), another named Ditto ( two white dashes), and a female named Ginger. The name Ginger was also given to a non-clan bear (Crackle’s mother) here at the WRI a decade ago, so we have to be careful to keep that straight.

5-year-old Summer (Donna’s daughter) also has 2 males and a female—Sven (white V), Spot (white spot), and Sadie.

Ted's revamped denTed's revamped denAnnie, a non-clan bear, has 2 males and 2 females (Nicky, Donner, Nan, and Dottie (white V). Dottie is close to Dot, so we have to be careful to keep that straight, too. 

For the bears in the western half of the study area (including Eagles Nest Community) we are avoiding favoritism by naming them mostly after Lynn’s grandchildren and co-workers.

WRI’s new non-clan mother who we have been calling “new mom” now has an official name based on the white butterfly-shaped patch on her chest. It’s Kimani (Kim), the Shoshone word for butterfly. She had a male (Ken) that we found dead near her a few days ago and two females Kate and Kaiya.

15-year-old RC’s cubs are Heinrik, Gabrielle, and Veronica.

5-year-old Jewel’s cubs are Scott, Nate, and a female named Mikah.

5-year-old Samantha has Mike and Lorie and had a male (Len) that disappeared.

For easier sanitation, we are replacing the floors of the wooden dens with boards spaced an eighth inch apart so any urine run through can later be rinsed away with a hose. The two-week quarantine of Ted is now over and he is back in his usual den where he immediately inspected his new floor.

Mapping of bear trails continues. With all the eyes here, we are doing a particularly thorough job of spotting, identifying, and recording bears in Eagles Nest Township. What a privilege it is to have so many dedicated people working together on this project. Among those talking about moving here, a couple who made an offer on a home here in Eagles Nest Community learned their offer was accepted, so welcome neighbors.

Thank you for all you do.

—Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center

All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.


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