Juliet - July 31, 2012Today was a day of checking on bears in the wild and at the Bear Center. At the Bear Center, Ted somehow caught an upper respiratory infection. Like happens in human families, it spread to Honey and Lucky. We contacted our local veterinarian as well as a second veterinarian. They, in turn, contacted the best zoo veterinarians they know. The consensus was to take nasal swabs, fecal samples, and samples from their environment to test for blastomycosis, bacteria, etc. Beyond that, they advised us to wait and watch. Good advice.
Yesterday, all three were listless. Today, they were doing better but with clear runny noses and still some coughing. We feel confident they are on the mend. Ted was back on his log and ready to respond to familiar voices and readily walk over for a greeting. Lucky was foraging for raspberries like wild bears are doing now. Honey was active as usual. All had good appetites. We’re thankful to have good veterinary advice.
In the wild, we homed in on Faith, “Oliana,” and Juliet (and her cubs). Juliet and her cubs are doing great. Faith gave veiled glimpses but would not come.
"Oliana" - July 31, 2012“Oliana” interrupted a rest to respond to promises of pecans and show us how well she is healing. The wound on her back left leg was hard to see. We didn’t realize how fast such a wound can shrink and have skin and hair close in. The big cut behind her left ear is closing up fast. Was it the antibiotics, or are black bears fast healers?
the REAL Oliana - July 31, 2012All this news about “Oliana” corresponds with a sighting of the long-missing REAL Oliana with scattered brown hairs that extend from her eyebrows toward the area between her eyes. The real Oliana acts like the real Oliana, leaving us still wondering who the injured bear really is. We’ll get a big clue when she dens up. Then we can see which mature female’s territory she is in to see if that helps. We tried to photograph “Oliana’s” progress in healing but the wounds had closed up to the point we couldn’t get good enough looks at them through the fur to get pictures.
Snapping turtles fighting - July 31, 2012We ended the day with a pontoon boat ride to see loons, visit Lily’s den where she gave birth to Hope, and see the other wildlife we inevitably spot along the way (eagles, great blue herons, hooded mergansers, gulls, etc.) On this trip, we lucked out and spotted RC and her 3 cubs on the shore and got another glimpse of Faith.
Snapping turtles fighting - July 31, 2012Then we saw a ruckus in the water among some lilypads and went closer. Lucky photographs partly solved the mystery. It was 2 big snapping turtles biting and apparently fighting. When they separated, one observer said the turtle she could see was as big as a toilet seat. Interesting comparison! Why they were tussling remains a mystery. We don’t know much about snapping turtle biology. If anyone knows what was happening, we’d like to hear from them.
Today there was more correspondence from the architect about the Hope Education Building.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center