The midnight crisis at the den meant little sleep for many Lily fans including Sue and 2 members of the Den-watch Team. The glowing eyes in the den meant the bears were on alert. No one could rest easy until Lily finally began to relax about 1:15 AM. Den-watch Team Leader Janet Dalton forwarded some of the comments about Lily’s repeated explosive lunges to the den entrance. Video of the midnight 'crisis' is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wEiPOhzFGc. See what you think!
"Ok, I need a pacemaker after this watch! Lily almost or seemed to want to jump out of the den? BLUSTER more than once scared ten years off my life thought something was going to get her,,,and both her and Hope were looking and looking out at the beginning....Right now she is still seeming to watch something ~ she seemed to be very vigilant this shift? Anyone else watching?”
“I agree I jumped a foot at least!! I wonder was that directed at Hope or something outside? I never heard anything outside but there was a bit of activity could have missed it !!”
“Holy cow! I will never be the same* jumped out of my skin 3 times with the blusters. WOW”
“Maybe someone from the center will have a look and tell us what they think. Anyone else have this experience on night watch? I usually watch at night and haven't heard any blusters only screaming, nursing and blowing LOL. How do you sleep after that bit of activity?”
“Me too! I am still shaking. I couldn't imagine what in the world would cause that! Surely the other animals can smell the strong scent of a bear, and to come that close for Lily to bluster...WOW! Will never forget tonight. I am so glad you were there.”
Sue heard breaking branches. Lily lunged again and then expressed her worry with a moan of fear. Hope and the cubs huddled deep in the den, counting on Lily to defend the entrance. Even though it is damp in the den, they all huddle in there for safety.
Lynn went to the den today to investigate. What did he find? Moose tracks passing by 22 yards from the den. The moose was following a deer trail that was a little too small for him. We say him because the tracks were big. As the moose squeezed through places with saplings bent over from the early snow and their tops now trapped by the crust, the moose broke some branches and lost some hair.
We didn’t know a bear would be so apprehensive about a moose. Twenty-two yards away through the alders and willows would make the moose hard to see, especially at midnight. Bears apparently have fear of the unknown, too, when something big is moving in the dark.
By the time Lynn got there today, the cubs had been out and had gone through a thorough play session at the mercy of Hope. When the family heard the snowmobile, they went into the den. The cubs went fast asleep as the picture shows.
Lynn also found the cable to the outside PTZ camera had been chewed. We hope to get it fixed tomorrow.
You’re keeping Ely in 6th place in the Readers Digest contest. That means you are keeping Ely in the money. First place is $40,000, second is $25,000, and four runners up each get $10,000. We’re pulling away from the pack behind us and closing in on 5th place. The site for casting 10 votes a day is http://wehearyouamerica.readersdigest.com/town.jsp?town=ELY&state=MN.
Please check for recent ‘bearstudy’ video uploads on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/bearstudy#g/u.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center