Jewel beside road - June 29, 2012About 11 AM, we got a call that a radio-collared mother with 2 cubs was feeding beside a paved road and people were taking pictures from their cars. The caller gave the location. It had to be Jewel, Herbie, and Fern. We went and observed, wondering if we needed to take action to discourage her behavior.
Blueberries - June 29, 2012We saw nothing wrong. They were eating blueberries. The first to ripen in that forested area were on the sunny north side of the road, and they were on it. Jewel ignored the cars. People were able to witness the undisturbed behavior of a foraging bear family. We took pictures from our vehicle, too. After the family moved into the dark forest, we went to where they had been foraging and snapped a picture of a berry bush they hadn’t gotten to.
We were glad Jewel had found the little patch beside the road in this year of patchy blueberry distribution. Many bushes have none. Some patches have an abundance—like the bushes Jewel, Herbie, and Fern found today.
Meanwhile, Lily Fans helped in many ways today. Some worked at the Research Center. Others planned what sounds like a fun day of games, prizes, and fundraising for the Hope Education Building on Lily’s Facebook page tomorrow.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center