Today, when we visited June to give her antibiotics for her eye, we found her in a raspberry patch in the open (pictures below). With the temperature at 79 and bright sun, she and the cubs soon retired to the shade of a cedar swamp where they could lie on the moist moss (right). This is the weather that makes bears dip a forepaw into a puddle and rub water on the top of the head.
We know how you feel about someone shooting June in the face. We feel the same. We are being careful, though, to represent the North American Bear Center and Wildlife Research Institute in a professional way in our statements. Reporters are undoubtedly reading our and your comments to quote in their articles.
We wanted to pass on a tidbit someone presented with pictures at the International Bear Conference. In a zoo, meat was suspended out of reach of a polar bear. To get it, the bear began throwing a big plastic toy at the meat and then used a long pole to hit it. Those are the best examples of a bear using tools that we have heard of. We don’t remember who presented it, which zoo was involved, or how to cite it, so if someone knows we’d love to hear it.
The survey to learn your thoughts and feelings about how we can do better ends tomorrow night at the end of August 1. To respond to the survey and get a high res picture of Faith when you complete it, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7S5B2GZ .
To vote for Soudan Underground Mine State Park, go to http://www.livepositively.com/#/americasparks/leaderboard and vote over and over. We’re approaching a million votes, if you can believe it! The contest closes September 6th.
Thank you for your contributions to the research while buying the wrist bands yesterday and for stepping forward to raise money for a small metal detector. We learned that “Team Bear is set to go with the Spontaneous WRI Assistance Special Event Drawing Presentation tonight 7/31 beginning at 7:00 PM EST until the goal of $300.00 is reached. This is being presented to help pay for the Silent Tactical Hand Held Metal Detector.” Thank you so much!
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center