Still waiting
October 10, 2010 – 7:10 PM CDT
Not much new to report.
Jo has been in and out of her den but not venturing far. She’s probably collecting bedding or just resting outside.
Juliet and cubs are still at their den of last year, occasionally venturing out less than a hundred yards.
Braveheart is no closer to the dug den she showed us, but at least she moved out of the distant swamp Sue walked to and is half a mile closer to a forest road. Hopefully this means she will settle somewhere soon.
Lily and Hope continue to wander about a mile southwest of the den they made. They have made no move toward that den, but they haven’t settled anywhere else either. All they are showing us is how little we know about bears after 44 years. Pictures of Lily and Hope and Lily's tracks across an ant mound are from Oct 8.
Meanwhile, you give us encouragement with your words, treats, auctions, and donations. Thank you. After getting a cranberry-apple pie and big cookies today, Lynn was heard to say that he is the heaviest he has ever been and if the Lily fans reject him at the Lilypad Picnic next summer for being heavy it wouldn’t be fair because they are the ones who made him that way. He said that while eating the pie.
Ely’s mayor sounded excited that the Lilypad planners have reserved big Whiteside Park for the Picnic next summer. The park covers a big city block in the center of Ely. He said the location could make the picnic a bigger event, which is what the planners are planning for.
Meanwhile, you stretched the score in the Care 2 Schools contest to 2,479 Ely versus 631 for second place. To vote, go to http://www.care2.com/schoolcontest/2704/054/.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center