Tasha, Mystery Bear, Group - UPDATE August 17, 2016
Tasha is gradually integrating into the social order. Here is Curator Sharon Herrell’s report on Tasha’s outing today.
Today Tasha's bear gate was opened, and it took her only 2 minutes to leave her enclosure. She explored behind the cabin den, where Holly watched. She tasted many different leaves including mountain maple, elderberry bush leaves and green ash. She ate some of the rye grass on the mound. She slapped trees and stomp walked and then ran like the wind and came back.
During her time out she went to the bunker den and twice blew at Lucky. Lucky just sat and watched. She climbed a balsam about 25 ft. from the small bunker den, then ran around the bunkers to Holly's den where she proceeded to climb on the dead stump outside Holly's denning area.
We let Holly out with her for about 15 minutes after 10:00 AM. Holly and Tasha went round and round the cedars and then sat down mouthing each other. Tasha slapped at her and Holly slapped back. A few times during their play periods, Tasha licked Holly. Holly ran after her, resulting in more mouthing and sitting facing each other. I call it the dance. It went much better than I could have anticipated. Tasha wants to be out with Holly.
I will continue to keep Lucky away for right now. All good encounters. The bond between them is getting stronger.
Regarding the mystery female, we got a response to the pictures. A community feeder far enough away that their bears are mostly different from the bears we see recognized her.
She wrote:
The injured mystery bear looks like our 6-year-old Jenny, daughter of Annie who is not a clan bear. Jenny has had the injury since she was 2 years old. She has walked mostly on three legs ever since. We have no idea how she was injured. She is very wary of other bears and people. Her white V is hard to see unless she sits or stands. Last year she had her first litter of cubs. She brought the 3 to us and managed them well considering her handicap. It actually made her use her left front paw more often when trying to keep up with the cubs. She spent the spring here and we last saw her sometime in early July. We are glad she has been seen as she would be our last bear to be accounted for.
Speaking of accounting for bears, Oliana has reappeared after not being seen for years. She has had cubs that left her this spring, going by her breasts. Even after being gone so long, she is her old self in the spot she is used to seeing us. Remember when we confused that a bear that had obviously been raised in captivity (Noliana) was nice Oliana in 2012. Then Oliana reappeared and we knew our mistake. It’s good to see her. We wondered where she’s been living.
The Black Bear Field Course ended today with participants saying what a joy it is to get together with people who are all just as excited about bears. Mike and I were saying it is the same for us. The enthusiasm of Lily Fans is contagious, and we like to share our own excitement about seeing bears. There were many great moments in this course.
At the Bear Center, passing motorists see a riot of color. Inside, the Striped Fishing Spider shared a little more about spider biology today. After laying eggs in an egg sac on June 26 and having the growing young spiders disperse on July 27, the same spider made another egg sac today.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center