Radio-tracking Shirley - March 21, 2012Lily and Faith are still in the vicinity of their den and stop by from time to time. Although Jewel has been out and about in recent days, today she stayed tucked in her den with her cubs. However, some bears have begun to roam.
Overturned rock - March 21, 2012We radio-located Jo and her yearling Victoria a third of a mile from their culvert den. We didn’t see them, but where they had passed, an unearthed rock (photo) showed they were looking for food.
We radio-located 2-year-old Sharon 0.6 mile from her den. Her radio signal showed her to be active in a cedar swamp, possibly passing through.
Sharon's empty den - March 21, 2012
Her sibling Shirley’s radio signals showed she is still near her den but out and active like Lily and Faith are.
Juneberry buds bursting - March 21, 2012Signs of spring are unusually advanced, of course, after the continuing record warmth this past couple weeks. Juneberry buds are popping and blossoms are about to burst. Juneberry is also known as serviceberry, shadbush, Saskatoon, or the Latin name Amelanchier (several species). Butterflies are flying. Lakes are opening up. Ducks are arriving. Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, and Mallard have been seen out the window on Woods Lake so far. A couple loons flew over. Spring peepers and woods frogs are both calling. Wolves were howling nearby as we wrote this.
| Wood frogs recorded today while radio-tracking Sharon. |
More bears to check tomorrow—not enough hours in a day as we fall behind on many things.
Video footage of our visit to Jewel’s den on Sunday is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LaXN4LHkPI.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
ANNOUNCEMENT: The NABC online Gift Shop (http://www.bear.org/website/gift-shop.html) will be closed for a week starting March 25 through the end of the month while Bear Center staff complete the inventory. Our Web Technician is taking advantage of this down time to upgrade web store. The web store will open April 1st with a whole new look!