Wood lily - June 7, 2012Long walks in the woods answered some questions today.
Overlook - June 7, 2012The day began with more photos for a forest panorama for the Hope Education Building. The treat at the end of that was seeing two of the biggest, showiest flowers of the area—Low Bindweed (Calystegia spithamaea) and Wood Lily (Lilium philadelphicum). The only other place we’ve seen another Wood Lily in this region was in 2008 just 20 feet from where one was blooming today. The Wood Lily is the most spectacular wildflower we know in northeastern Minnesota.
Bill and Sharon sleeping - June 7, 2012
Low bindweed - June 7, 2012Sharon and Bill are still together and behaving much as they were yesterday. We joined them just as they had taken a break from foraging on army tent caterpillars in the heat of the day. Sharon was bedded in a cool balsam thicket and the larger bed next to her showed that Bill had retreated as we approached. Once he had circled around and caught our scent trail he returned. Soon they were both settled into new beds—again, right next to each other.
Defoliated aspen forest south of Tower, MN - June 7, 2012
Close-up of defoliation - June 7, 2012The area where Sharon and Bill have been foraging is a full-fledged pocket of tent caterpillars. A whole forest of aspen has been defoliated. A quick check of the area Juliet was in yesterday found caterpillars there as well. This temporary bonanza of a preferred food should reduce problems of bears looking for food in the towns of Tower and Soudan in the western part of our study area. The central and eastern portions, closer to Ely, have few tent caterpillars. Probably next year will be the big outbreak in those areas.
Small portion of the clover patch - June 7, 2012A hike in to the ‘contested clover patch’ to change June’s GPS batteries found her alone but she was looking around as if a male had been with her. June followed the trail of what we suspect was the male through the woods and back to the clover patch where she relaxed and fed extensively on clover. We glimpsed Big Harry at a distance and he began to approach. When he realized June was not alone, he bolted. June trailed him and we followed. After a couple up-down-round-abouts we realized this could be never-ending so we dropped out. As we readied our gear for the hike out, Big Harry appeared—tongue-clicking and trailing June who we thought was trailing him!
June sitting on log - June 7, 2012The family of Hooded Mergansers hatched in the duck box 22 feet up a red pine by the Research Center and moved to Woods Lake today. Sue glimpsed the mother leading approximately 8 ducklings to the water.
Donna Rogers finished moving hundreds of potted plants out of Lynn and Donna’s living room and dining room and getting them planted and watered to brighten up the front of the Bear Center. Glenn Hoole is making progress on the new informative kiosk by the beginning of the Bear Center nature trail.
A group of Lily Fans is working on a plan to spread the word about bears around the world.
Another video of Juliet and cubs from May 29 is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_31FDKel6tU.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center