Snapping turtle - June 8, 2012For nearly a week now, painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) and snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) have been seeking gravel areas where they can dig holes in which to deposit their eggs. In a spot where a dozen or more turtles lay eggs each year, we put up trail cams to see if bears are among the animals that dig up the eggs and eat them. We see many eggs dug up but have never found a bear track in the mix.
Snapping turtle dug out another turtle's eggs and laid its own in the nest! - June 8, 2012We’ve always assumed the nests were dug up solely by mammals. Today we saw something to the contrary. A snapping turtle with a 12-14 inch carapace decided to lay her eggs where another snapper had already dug a hole and covered her eggs. The snapper began digging, unearthing soil and 30-34 eggs. All but 2 ended up broken. Then she laid 30 eggs of her own and covered them. About 7 hours later, a yearling bear passed by the broken eggs, many containing most of their contents, and the bear ignored them.
Sharon - June 8, 2012Overnight, Sharon traveled 7.9 miles but ended up very close to where she started her journey. We wondered if another male had arrived on the scene. We walked in to check on Sharon and found her alone. No Bill and no sign of any other male. Sharon was foraging on caterpillars and seemed a bit on edge—but not looking around as if there was another bear in the vicinity.
Juliet's cub peeks around a tree - June 8, 2012Sharon’s mother Juliet is with cubs Sam, Sophie, and Sybil in a beautiful black ash swamp where the ground is covered with lush ferns. Juliet is eating caterpillars which seem to be just coming into the ash swamp from a nearby defoliated aspen stand. We didn’t see the cubs eating them, although we know cubs do eat them. Juliet’s cubs seemed more interested in digging at logs for ant pupae.
Close-up of dug out snapping turtle eggs - June 8, 2012Lily’s romantic life remains a mystery. She was spotted walking alone yesterday. She seems to prefer discreet affairs and does not parade her beaus around like some other females.
We have received reports that yearlings Faith (from Lily), Aster (from June), Daisy (from Bow), and Victoria (from Jo) have all been seen in the last couple days and are apparently doing well.
A video of June from May 31 is online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha9en1xsdvY.
We began actual paperwork for a loan to make possible the Hope Education Building.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center