First, the radio-collared bears are all fine. We checked on Lily and family today in the process of changing Lily’s batteries. The exception is that June, while safe in the boonies, has the bad eye.
Then word came that Ursula was spotted for the first time since October 5th. She removed her collar in the den over-winter and has not been reported as seen until today. The caller said he saw an unidentified mother with two cubs. Our first thought was the long lost Ursula. We rushed to the area and saw a nervous mother with a rich golden muzzle and eyebrow patches. Ursula. At first she ran. Then she recognized our voices and actions and calmed down. Eventually, she came. Shortly, she was her old sweet self. Ursula is one of the sweethearts—like the bears you all know and like her brother Burt.
Lynn first met them at their natal den in April 2005 when their mother Shadow was off scouting where to move them from their flooded den. Lynn touched noses with Ursula, who was still in the socialization stage, which occurs between roughly 6 and 12 weeks of age. Burt, a little bigger, had moved into the non-socialization stage when anyone who was not present during the socialization stage is an enemy. He blew and slapped, showing his fear and defensiveness. Eventually, he, too, touched noses with Lynn.
The next day, Shadow moved them to a dry bed in the upland. Nervous Shadow is not conducive to observation, so Lynn did not approach their area. Data from a nervous bear reveals little about bear life. There was little or no contact between them and Lynn until after family breakup over a year later.
As independent yearlings, both Ursula and Burt seemed to remember the contact from long ago, or both had personalities that led to easy trust. Whatever the case, Ursula showed her trust today and was very comfortable getting fitted with a radio-collar and GPS. It was almost dark, so no picture.
Thank you for the surge in surveys after the mention in last night’s update and our posting a nonworking link. The correct link is https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7S5B2GZ . The survey runs to the end of Monday, August 1 (6 days to go). Thank you for every bit of help you can give us.
And you have Soudan Underground Mine State Park impressively in 2nd place over a half million votes ahead of 3rd place. We wondered what 1st place Oak Park is. It is a park less than a half mile in diameter in the middle of Minot, ND, with a population over 40,000 people. They are certainly giving us a race. To vote, go to http://www.livepositively.com/#/americasparks/leaderboard and vote over and over.
With feelings still glowing after the Lilypad Picnic, we say thank you so much for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center