We noticed today that Lily still has diarrhea, but the vet said that was to be expected at this stage of recovery and that she should continue to do well. We saw Jo’s cub today and Faith looks small in comparison, but Faith runs, climbs, and is coordinated, so we’re optimistic. Lily’s nipples are pretty flaccid, and this extra late green-up is not helping. Yesterday, it snowed, and today started out at 26 degrees. It got nicer through the day. Come on spring!
Juliet and her yearling Shirley both removed their collars. We had put them on too loose. This evening we were able to re-collar them both.
A few more words about Lily. What a special bear! She was the dominant cub of June’s second litter that also included Cal and Bud. She knew us before she opened her eyes. She grew up with one or the other of us, mostly Sue, as part of her life. Having us around is pretty normal for her, so she just goes about her business. That is a rare benefit. It takes years to develop that trust. We were fortunate to be able to develop it with Lily because her mother June trusts us.
That trust has made possible the Den Cams, the daily updates, a significant portion of the videos that make the exhibits at the North American Bear Center, and much of the data being developed for peer-reviewed publication. Lily is the subject of three documentaries scheduled for broadcast on National Geographic Wild channel in June. She is making a difference for bears. Lily is educating thousands of students and the general public. She has a lot to offer all of us—students, hunters, wildlife managers, and the general public around the world. She has a lot to offer science. She is helping Minnesota tourism and the regional economy. Of all the dozen or so radio-collared bears, only a couple are truly comfortable with researchers walking with them, and Lily is one of them. May she live long and well.
In the Readers Digest contest to win money for Ely, we are holding 6th place, voting like mad as people try to catch up or stay ahead of us. The link to vote 10 times in a row each day through May 16 is http://wehearyouamerica.readersdigest.com/town.jsp?town=ELY&state=MN.
In the Chase contest to win money for the International Wolf Center, you have us solidly in 3rd place with only 2 days to go. This is the contest where we can vote only once through May 4. To vote, go to this link http://www.facebook.com/ChaseCommunityGiving and click “Like.” Then go to this link http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/411543539-international and register your vote for the International Wolf Center.
The petition to name the black bear Minnesota’s state mammal has 1,487 votes and is at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/BlackBear-MNState-Mammal/. Some big things are happening on this behind the scenes.
Thank you for all you are doing.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center