June checks out Lily's den Yes, bats! Late this summer, we installed a trail cam to keep tabs on any activity at the deep chimney den Lily and Faith used last year. The camera showed June entering and exiting the den and resting outside on August 29. It also recorded red foxes, snowshoe hares, red squirrels, moths, and bats checking out the den.
Bat flies over Lily's den
June rests near denWe contacted a Minnesota DNR bat researcher and will likely collaborate on a study of these deep rock dens as refugia for bats that are dying off in large numbers from White Nose Syndrome (WNS). Most study of WNS to date has been in large hibernacula like the Soudan Underground Mine where thousands of bats gather. Scientists are looking for smaller overwinter gatherings of bats in places like bear dens and other deep rock crevices. Small gathering spots may reduce chances of bats contracting the disease and help bats survive this crisis. There may be a need to protect such bear dens as bat refugia. Modern technology is expanding what we can learn. We will continue to monitor Lily’s deep rock den and will likely expand the study to other such dens. The DNR bat researcher will add a bat detector to the mix.
Red fox peers into denThis weekend, we plan to explore possibilities for Den Cams in the dens of Lily (who should give birth) and Jewel (who is denned with Fern and Herbie). Both Lily and Jewel could show how well-fed individuals vary in their behaviors from winter to winter.
Snowshoe hare peers into denThe Miracle Team at the NABC worked double time, and most of the new Web Store items we promised for November 1 are now online. The Team beat the November 1 date by nearly a week. A few more items, including back-ordered items, will be added soon.
Thank you for the many Web Store orders you sent in today. Christmas buying to help the bears is on!
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center