Jo & Victoria - Nov 5, 2011After replacing Jo’s GPS unit yesterday we got no readings from it. We lose data when these units fail and we really want to collect as much detail of Jo’s late fall wanderings as possible. This morning I headed out determined to find the problem and fix it. After yesterday’s trek, I hoped she wasn’t far off the beaten path.
cedar post in Jo's territory bitten and rubbed by a bearI found her easily, but to my surprise Jo and Victoria were snug in a den 0.85 miles from where we left them at 5:30 PM last night. As soon as I saw the raking and realized there was a den, I backed off and left. Failed GPS or not, I didn’t want to disturb them. Only time will tell whether this current den is their final choice. Now, me? I’d have chosen one of the earlier ones she considered over this one. Jo will only be denned up for 5 months—some other bears have been in their dens for 2 months already.
Lynn spent today with his wife Donna. Tomorrow is her birthday, and they took a drive to his old study area to reminisce.
bumper sticker - COMING SOON!Bear Center staff and volunteers gathered this weekend to package up Lily-Hope-Faith Holiday Cards in packets of 10 for sale. They should be available soon! The calendars (Lily & Family, Research Bears) are being printed now and hopefully will be available next week. Pictured is additional new merchandise available soon.
mousepad - COMING SOON!We heard from those running the Hunters’ Jackpot that the drawing has been held and the winner is Colleen Schnortz of Hibbing, MN. Congratulations Colleen! Their reasoning for holding the drawing now is:
We decided to make the award now, before confirming that Colleen the bear is still alive, for two main reasons: 1) Colleen disappeared the same way last year and reappeared in the Spring, and 2) Bears are rarely killed during the last four days of hunting season. We decided to make the award in good faith, giving hunters the benefit of the doubt, assuming that an honorable hunter who may have shot Colleen would have turned in her collar to the DNR. We thank all the participants in the jackpot for their support.
A second video of yesterday's walk with Jo and Victoria has been posted at http://www.youtube.com/user/bearstudy#p/u/0/UNl7VsIYfAI. It ends with Jo climbing over the fence and heading for the open-pit mine.
Thank you for all you do!
—Sue Mansfield, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center