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Grand Opening in 2 Days - UPDATE July 16, 2015

LoppyLoppyGrand Opening is only 2 days away! But first, a trail cam captured a picture of Lily and a cub looking into a den that she may use this winter. We’re putting trail cams out to learn more about possibilities for this winter. Always good to see Lily and learn a little more about her life in the woods.

The media continues to focus on Den Cam possibilities. I’ll be interested to read an article in tomorrow’s Minneapolis Star Tribune. It may already be up online.

Lily and cub at rock denLily and cub at rock denLoppy made it through the fall and showed up today, looking on the lean side. It probably means he made a major effort during mating season. He is timid with people.

We are still looking forward to Jack. In years prior he returned on July 13, 2014, August 24, 2013 and June 25, 2012.

Someone asked how Shadow got her name. It was because of her habit of leaving the cubs at a feeding station to eat while she cruised the periphery looking for bears to shag out. Since she seemed always to be in the shadows, looking like a shadow, I had to name her that. That habit of hers probably is what saved her in her closest call we know of with a hunter. A guide mistakenly put a bait on our property at the WRI some years ago, and I happened to see him as he came out of the woods at dark. I asked him if he saw any bears. He told me how cubs came to his bait but the mother stayed off in the shadows circling and he never got a shot at her. The guide moved the bait the next day. Shadow is now 28 and doing well although a little gray in the forehead.

Deer at duskDeer at duskPeople who are seeing the Ecology Hall are impressed! So many people did a good job. There is a long way to go to achieve the education we want, but this good start will bring people in and keep the education going while we work on broadening it. Thank you Lily Fans for your help and contributions. Time and money well spent.

Working frantically on captions for the pictures on the upper walls.

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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