Jewel and Herbie at base of huge white pine - April 12, 2012Mid-afternoon, Sue said, “Jewel is trying to lead the cubs away from the den.” She kept trying to get them to head off in a certain direction. Jewel had a plan, but the cubs were reluctant to leave the security of the den they dove into when danger threatened a few days ago. At 6:02 PM, Jewel prevailed. As they left, we wondered how far they would go and what Jewel had in mind.
Jewel at white pine bed tree - April 12, 2012
Jewel is not wearing a GPS to show us her travels, so about 7 PM, we checked. She had led them a tenth of a mile to one of the few white pines in that area—a mature white pine with strong bark for safe climbing. It’s the kind of tree mothers strongly prefer as a refuge tree for young cubs around here.
Jewel rakes bedding while nursing Herbie - April 12, 2012Fern heard us coming and climbed 9 feet up to a broad crotch before we came into view. Herbie stayed on the ground with Jewel. Jewel lay at the base of the tree and watched us approach with our usual “It’s me, bear.” We heard Herbie nursing. As we watched and as Herbie nursed, Jewel raked a bed, showing she planned to stay. Fern started down, and Jewel tried to help her. When Jewel pulled on Fern’s hind foot, Fern gave a muted protest that obviously meant “Please don’t do that, mom,” and Jewel left her to do it her way. Fern made it down, engaged in brief tongue-licking with Jewel, and soon both cubs were nursing—Herbie on the right and Fern on the left as usual. Light faded, and we headed back to share the news.
Video of the PTZ footage captures as the family left the den is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DsSnE1KLAk.
Jewel was one of the last 2 mothers with cubs to leave their dens. Juliet was flooded out and had to leave first. Cookie left in the last few days. Dot ventured and eighth of a mile from her den today but was back by nightfall. We don’t know if she brought the cubs on the jaunt or not. We suspect not.
Tomorrow will dawn on a new chapter in their lives.
Videos from Sue’s day with Jewel yesterday are posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0MP3WIg-lk and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liswgVQxm2Q.
When the Northland News Center reporter stopped by today for a brief update, we said Jewel and cubs would be leaving their den soon, but we didn’t know how right we were. It probably was on the 6 PM news and maybe will be on the 10 PM news. The reporter said that somehow the TV bear updates are about the most watched stories online. We all know who is watching them.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center