rock den used by Honey and Lucky 3 years ago and excavated by Ted this yearStuck inside writing on this snowy day, the biggest news is Honey moving into Lucky’s den with him. These two videos tell the story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z7FEK9Jl8o and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oao5N0k4NO8.
Honey abandoned the wooden den by the viewing windows and paid Lucky a visit. Lucky must have been surprised to see Honey enter his den. She usually distrusts Lucky. She shows that by retreating, chasing him, or blowing and clacking her jaws, expressing anxiety. She did some blowing and clacking today, too, as she kept a close eye on any movement Lucky made. Nevertheless, she came on in and carefully raked a bed while visitors and staff watched them on the Den Cam monitor inside the Bear Center, which explains the voices and extraneous sounds. We never guessed Honey would move in with Lucky like this. Honey ended up stealing some of Lucky’s bedding, and we’ll see on their Den Cam if Lucky steals it back one of these days. Will they settle in and get along, or will the tension we see continue? The videos show how Honey goes about making a bed that is just right. By the end of the second video, it looked like Lucky had pretty much accepted Honey being there, and he just lay quietly as she made her bed.
Honey joining Lucky reminds us of another baffling or enlightening action from her 3 years ago. After a summer of chasing little Lucky up trees, etc., Honey declared a truce and invited Lucky to join her in the rock den that is visible from the viewing windows. As Lucky walked by, Honey made sweet high-pitched grunts that sounded inviting. At least that’s what Lynn thought watching from 20 feet away. Lucky apparently made the same interpretation. He cautiously approached this bear that had so often chased him. If our memory serves us right, they touched noses. Lucky then carefully edged past her to the back of the den and snuggled down next to her. They spent the winter with Lucky wedged between Honey and the back of the den.
Their good feelings continued for a few days after they emerged in spring. They played and wrestled together like Lucky has done with Ted until this past summer. Shortly, though, Honey went back to her old attitude and has been wary and anxious toward Lucky ever since, until today.
Meanwhile, Ted showed pre-denning behaviors like Lily, Jo, Braveheart, and others show us in the wild. Ted explored several den possibilities before deciding which den is right for him. He even spent time enlarging the den that Lucky and Honey used 3 years ago. The back of that rock den is soil instead of rock, and he enlarged it another 2-3 feet before deciding on the ‘chalet’ the staff built for Honey this summer. There was no dissuading Ted from the chalet once he decided it was his. He still takes the occasional stroll, but we think he will be there overwinter. This is about the time he has settled down in the past. Same for Honey.
Lynn and Donna thank you all for the many good comments about the update last night.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center