Jewel peeks out of den - Jan 14, 2012Is Jewel in labor? We think so! We’ll have to look back in the archives to pinpoint the first signs, but about 5 PM, a Den-Watcher noted that she looked uncomfortable holding her head stiffly. Now her ears are shivering and she’s making little sounds (very unusual) being picked up with the newly positioned microphone. We’re watching for contracting head muscles like Lily showed as she clenched her teeth.
Jewel grooms herself - Jan 14, 2012She’s been restless the last few days, making us hurry to put the camera in position for good data. We might have gotten there in the nick of time today (4:04 to 4:24 PM). Some here may not be sleeping tonight. If she started labor around 5 PM, she should be having the cubs tomorrow afternoon if she is like Lily with about 22 hours of labor.
Jewel chews her foot - Jan 14, 2012Jewel is so good! Calmer than Lily, she was perfect as we repositioned the camera. She batted at it a few times which showed us that the camera would stay in position if she jostled it going out of the den the way it is anchored now. It is face on in front of her for an optimum view. We were afraid to put it there at first because she was going in and out and we thought she would knock it aside. She’s been gathering wood chips from a rotten log for bedding. Today she stayed in and might be in for the duration now if we are right about labor. Her job with cubs will be to keep them snuggled, warmed, and fed.
Jewel looking uncomfortable - Jan 14, 2012We think how wonderful Jewel is to show the trust that allows this technology and learning. As we were positioning the camera and engaging her in behaviors she understands, we thought how we would have had to do it in the old days if we were to try to learn about this half of black bear life that has remained a mystery until now. We’d have had to use tranquilizers, which introduces the risk of killing her. When we left, we’d have had to block her entrance with branches to make her feel secure in the den and discourage her from leaving when she recovered from the drugs.
Jewel resting - Jan 14, 2012With trust, she recognizes and welcomes us. No long nose. No blowing. No fear. She looks at us confidently to confirm her expectations. We do, and she understands we are there in a familiar way rather than as a threat she doesn’t understand.
The new view is great. Den-watchers will be able to record good data on what they see and hear. It may be the best view yet.
But what if we’re wrong about labor? You know as much as we do about that. We all can only watch and wait while the Den-Watch Team records minute by minute observations for the record and peer-reviewed publications.
The technology team did their part today, moving the reliable equipment from Lily’s shed to Jewel’s shed to make doubly sure we capture Jewel’s details.
Our Media Relations team put out a news release today on the Jewel Den Cam. It can be seen at http://www.bear.org/website/images/stories/press/Press-Release-20120114.pdf.
Meanwhile, members of Team Forward worked at the Research Center today to enter data and organize your thoughtful, heartfelt letters and gifts so we can say proper thank you’s. We’ve felt remiss about that for a long time and we hope no letters have gotten separated from things that came with them. We always think “Thank you,” but we often don’t get the time to say it properly.
We welcome the new viewers who heard about Jewel and the Den Cam on ‘A Prairie Home Companion’ tonight and we thank Garrison Keillor and his staff for the fun opportunity.
At this moment, our friends at Idaho Black Bear Rescue could use your votes at http://sunsuperdreams.com.au/dream/view/second-chance-at-freedom-for-orphaned-bear-cubs. It’s just one vote per person, period, we are told, with votes needed to move them above fourth place into the money.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center