We are concerned that 4 shots were heard in Donna’s territory about 7 PM this evening. We doubly want to have Donna and cubs spotted somewhere now. Donna is pictured with her radio-collar at right, but she slipped her collar while marking a tree (below) after the start of bear hunting. Fortunately, most hunters spare mothers and cubs, but we can’t help but worry.
The 7 GPSed bears (Dot, June, Braveheart, Juliet, Lily, Ursula, Jo) are okay. Of the non-GPSed radio-collared bears, Shirley was seen and we’re assuming Sharon, Star, Cookie, and Colleen are okay but will check those tomorrow.
A video of Hope digging a den (which was later abandoned) on Sept 10 has been posted at http://www.youtube.
We’re sorry we haven’t made faster progress on the survey. With over 28,000 thoughtful comments, we want to read them all. The survey team, Team Forward, is still collating them by subject and content. We have been tied up with hunting season, among other things, which set us back on many fronts, including the survey. The survey is important to us, especially so when we saw so many responses with heartfelt comments. The team is working on it.
The fire remained at 156 square miles today. Fire means renewal and berries, but it also means danger. It has burned enough. We wish the firefighters well in putting it out. Toward that end, we had some food left over from your generosity and donated it to them. Thank you from us and them.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center