Lynn Rogers takes Braveheart's heart rate - July 24, 2012We changed GPS batteries on Braveheart and Juliet with the Bear Course group today. The visit to Braveheart was especially exciting because she is the mystery bear that only a few see. However, deep in her territory she still recognizes the voice she has known since she was a cub and silently approaches to have her batteries changed in exchange for a treat. She is the biggest female in the study and one of the calmest if her heart rate is any indication—64/minute today.
Braveheart approaching - July 24, 2012But the bear the Black Bear Field Course participants most wanted to see was Faith. We wondered how that would go. She has never been visited by a group since she’s been on her own. Faith was cautious. We homed in on her signal in a red raspberry (Rubus sp.) patch that also had some blueberries (Vaccinium sp.) and of course the usual ant colonies. Bear feeding sign was rampant throughout the patch.
Faith - July 24, 2012
Faith held for the voice she has known nearly since birth but then moved away without a glimpse. Would we all be disappointed? Her signal circled to our back trail. We stood quietly except for “It’s me bear” as she arced around to our downwind side. She moved to our back trail again. En route, she let us glimpse her a hundred yards away across a valley in some tall red pines. When her signal direction showed she had reached our back trail again, we waited. Shortly, her signal grew stronger. She approached slowly and cautiously through a dense patch of hazel (Corylus cornuta) bushes. Participants with keen ears heard leaves rustle and her panting, but we couldn’t see her until she raised her head and paused 15 feet away.
Raspberry - July 24, 2012That first look at her beautiful face and healthy, lustrous black fur in the greenery was unforgettable. She paused for several minutes, not wanting to make a mistake. There were no big trees to climb. We knew it would take some courage on her part to come closer. We reassured her it was okay by tossing a pecan. She heard it hit the ground, recognized Lynn’s action, found the nut, and made the final connection. She then came to where Lynn was sitting on the ground and had no qualms about lying across his outstretched leg and allowing him to take a heart rate (124/minute) while she ate more pecans. We all could see how great she looked and how well she was doing on her own far from any feeding station.
Blueberries - July 24, 2012Cameras clicked, but no picture did her justice. Participants remarked how much she looks like Hope. Memories flooded back. We thought of the Lily Fans we had seen so recently at the Lilypad Picnic and wished they could be seeing her too.
It was a wonderful few minutes to end our bear experiences in this course. Then Faith turned and disappeared without a backward glance.
Oliana got her medicine and is healing well!
Thank you for all you do.
— Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center