Off with the roof! - Nov 2, 2012 Construction workers brought in big equipment today to remove the heavy roof beams from over the steps. They knew each step to take in turn for efficient work. The equipment is parked where the 100-foot addition will be. The photos show the new fence line to make room for the addition.
Site of NABC expansion - Nov 2, 2012With the fence intact again, Bear Curator Donna Andrews let the bears out of their holding pens. Each holding pen has a den. Yesterday, Ted gave us the feeling he didn’t want Lucky for a neighbor and we wondered if he would prefer to be in his Chalet Den of last year. That would leave vacant the bunker den that Honey and Lucky shared last winter. When Donna Andrews rang the bell for the bears to come to the feeding area for food, Lucky and Honey came quickly. Ted had other ideas.
Honey on scale - Nov 2, 2012
Ted in chalet den - Nov 2, 2012As soon as Honey left the Chalet Den, Ted took it over, and he never did stop down to the feeding area. At 660 pounds, he has ample fat for the winter and apparently didn’t feel the need to vacate “his” new den for unnecessary food. He looked content resting on a thick cushion of straw. We suspect he will stay there. We suspect Lucky will go back to the small bunker den he chose. He has showed his preference for that den by raking straw out of the big bunker den into his small bunker den and by raking a lot of leaves into it from the forest floor. We suspect Honey will take the big bunker den she chose last winter. They have two other dens available—the wooden window den and the rock cave that Ted was digging deeper a week ago.
NABC construction site - Nov 2, 2012We had a nice conversation with Dave Rasmussen today. He is the proprietor of EnviroTrak, LLC, who made our 2 miles of Nature Trails back in 2007 totally free. He brought in his equipment and created beautiful trails 6 feet wide. We haven’t had the wherewithal to finish more than a quarter mile of them. Meanwhile, the other 1 ¾ miles have grown up a bit. He had put his machine up for the winter. He happily said he will walk the trails in a couple days and will be happy to freshen up the trails. His generosity is very much appreciated. A group of Lily Fans will come next spring to turn the cleared trails into finished interpretive trails. This will fulfill yet another educational dream for the Bear Center. Lily Fans have made and are making so many dreams come true.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center