Jewel foraging - July 3, 2012That’s the phrase Bear Course Participants coined for the events of today. We had to change GPS batteries for June, Juliet, and Jewel.
June - July 3, 2012June gave us an opportunity to see how she responds to “It’s me, Bear.” She was visible 140 yards away on top of a hill in a clear-cut. She watched Lynn’s van stop and Lynn get out. She was in some scattered trees that had been left and was silhouetted against the sky. Immediately after hearing “It’s me, Bear” she began moving downwind. She then she turned and worked her way upwind to us. After a delay, she continued on confidently to us. It was if she heard the words but wanted to double-check using her nose before committing to an approach.
Sam - July 3, 2012
Sybil - July 3, 2012We changed the batteries as course participants watched from a distance. The routine is familiar to her, and she is the bear most accustomed to the researchers. She ignored the tugging to extract the GPS unit from its pouch on her collar. She munched away as the batteries were changed and the unit was stuffed into the pouch again. She munched away as we recorded a calm heart rate of 78 per minute, and then walked off into the forest. Lynn followed a short way for a picture and was mostly ignored. Beginning a walk often follows the feeding of a handful of nuts.
Sophie - July 3, 2012On to Juliet. She typically greets us with a blustery lunge, blow, and ground-slap. She heard the words, did her usual ‘greeting,’ hesitated, and finally came confidently. She sat down and then lay down to eat the nuts while we did the battery change. Then Sam, Sybil, and Sophie came, in that order. Course participants snapped away at Juliet and the healthy-looking cubs. Feeding ended. Juliet walked away without a look at anyone. The cubs followed.
Herbie - July 3, 2012Jewel, Fern, and Herbie were next. We joined them at the base of a big white pine and did the usual, snapped pictures of all three, and left.
Fern - July 3, 2012A participant from New Zealand who has been watching the family since the cubs were born had a tear seeing them in person. A participant from Arizona said it was yet another soul satisfying moment. The bears were great. The chatter in the evening was about how the day could not have been better. It was satisfying to all of us. After all the fun and laughter, we’ll be sad to see the group leave tomorrow.
A short video of Juliet from June 16 is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIRjetbpM-U.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center