So much has happened since we watched Faith and Jason being born just 2 months ago. Today, we saw them walking better than ever outside the den. The whole family spent the entire afternoon outside of the den!
Going out this early is unusual in this area. Three guesses why it’s happening:
- The unusual mixed age litter stimulates increased activity.
- Temperatures have been 10-15 F above normal, in the 40’s, which is warmer than the frosty den that is still at the frozen ground temperature.
- Snow fleas, one of the first foods of spring, may be swarming on the snow surface in this unusually warm weather.
Seeing them all outside today let us see how Lily is doing double duty for offspring with very different needs. Hope wants to explore, eat a few alder catkins, and play—often with Lily. Lily wants to dig a bed or two or three in the snow. The cubs scream for close attention. Lily can only do so much. If the cubs are screaming but okay, she goes about her business. But we think she’d be there in a flash if the cubs screamed in pain.
The screaming we saw and heard outside today could be what was going on the other night when temperatures were warm. Lily and Hope were out, Lily was digging the bed in the snow and the cubs kept screaming. They may want to play, too, in addition to nursing and just being by mom.
But all seems fine. The cubs are doing well, and everyone’s getting along. Video of some of today’s adventures has been posted by ‘bearstudy’ at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKg--3FCEpE. It is part 1 of 3 so check back later for the rest. Be sure to watch to the end to see the 'cub play!'
e action today, we were bound to the computer screen watching and learning. Then Sue up and did something we’ve been talking about for weeks. She went and checked Jo’s den and heard at least one cub. The last time Sue was there, the den entrance was snowed shut and any cub sounds were too muffled to be heard. Today, the entrance was open and Jo appeared for a quick photo op until a cub called her and she disappeared.
A Lily fan found this recent interview of Gordon Buchanan talking about Hope http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/magazine/articles/interviews/wildlife-cameraman-gordon-buchanan?page=all.
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Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center