With snow melting in the balmy weather (45 F), it was time for a den check to see if flooding has started and to put a radio-collar on Lily. Her days in that low-lying den are numbered and we can’t risk her moving the family out without a radio-collar. Thisopportunity to closely observe a mixed-age litter is unprecedented. We can learn so much.
No problems in the den yet. Lily’s underside is dry. The snow on top of the den is melting and dripping down around the entrance. This dampens Lily’s back as she crawls in and out—Hope’s too—but it is pretty superficial dampness. When the cubs were alone in the den earlier today we noticed the back wall of the den is dark from moisture, but the bed remains dry.
All the bears were gems. The cubs surprised us by coming out too, giving us the first good views of them. Eventually they settled in to nurse just outside the entrance. Jason is going to have black fur, not brown. He is only slightly lighter than Faith but has a very light face. He looks a lot like Lily did at his age, so we expect him to look a lot like her with a light muzzle when he grows up. We guessed their weights at three and a half pounds each. The both nursed on the left side of Lily’s chest like those were 'their' nipples—Faith on the top one and Jason on the lower one. We suspect Hope has claimed the two on the other side of Lily's chest. Hope almost nursed with them and went for the right set of nipples but then decided to go back in the den.
We tried to wipe off the lens and either we just made it worse or one of the bears goobered it up before we even got back to the field station. The camera is inside the den and the camera tube needs to be pulled out for us to reach the lens. Those of you watching us work must have thought we were statues as we stood still and patiently waited for the ‘right time’ to move the tube—the time when the bears were comfortable. We’ll keep trying. Not only do we all want to see, but the Den-watch Team has to have a clear view to gather solid, publishable data. And this is the time of year when it is imperative to spend time at the den if we are to get calm behavioral data from the cubs this spring and summer.
The first video of today's den visit has been posted by 'bearstudy' at http://ww
You have been working for Ely’s Schools! Tenth place and climbing! Here’s the link where you can vote ten times a day, http://wehearyouamerica.readersdigest.com/town.jsp?town=ELY&state=MN. Thank you on behalf of the schools and the bears.
And today, we heard that more food arrived. Sharon Johnson said “They have spoiled us this whole last year.” Between yesterday’s meat, cheeses, fruit, and sweets and now more of the same today, we truly are spoiled. Thank you. When Lynn saw the food yesterday, he tried to hide his selfish desires. He made the 5 office people say what he could legally take. He didn’t want to look greedy the first day with new office manager Heidi Shiltz. The others smiling and asking each other “Did you try that yet?” were Sharon Johnson, Judy McClure, Missy Heitala, and Mary Jane Caspers. The chocolate covered blueberries were disappearing fast. The group was good enough to include packages of Havarti cheese and Gouda cheese in the bag for Lynn and Sue. Were they being extra generous or did they not realize how special those cheeses are? Lynn didn’t say anything. He knew Sue would appreciate them and he was afraid the Bear Center staff might take them back. Now that the cheeses are secure in the refrigerator at the Research Center, thank you to them and to you!
The new mugs made it onto the web store today. We all like this picture and story of Lily’s family. It shows what we have been watching these past months. It’s at http://www.bear.org/website/gift-shop.html?page=shop.product_details&category_id=51&flypage=flypage_images.tpl&product_id=703
Thank you for all you are doing every day.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center