Lucky near waterfall - July 15, 2007Play is a vital component of black bear bonding and probably the greatest mental stimulation a cub can have. As we all saw with the Den Cams and in the videos, it is an important part of young life. From what we have seen, play shows its most exuberant expression in intelligent species like bears, kittens, and puppies. For older bears, we say that most of their behavior is driven by fear (or perhaps caution) and food. For cubs, we’d add the desire to play. For them, play is one of the ways they learn their capabilities and practice behaviors important to survival as adults. Play-fighting is one form. Manipulating objects is another. Lucky played with objects but was more exuberant when playing with people. A problem is that exuberant cubs don’t control their bites like yearlings and older bears do, and that causes bruises. Jean learned that and soon left play to her son Joel, the students Andrew and Nick, and me. Donna Andrews discouraged play as something that could teach Lucky dangerous habits. Play is almost impossible to prevent, but Lucky’s play during his first month at the Bear Center was limited.
The limits on play were about to change in mid-August (2007) with his next mother, Sharon Herrell.
Lucky peeks out of a log - July 15, 2007Lucky had already bonded with Sharon to an extent because she had given Lucky bottles earlier. When she became the primary mother in late August and September, their bond strengthened and Lucky fell into new routines. Sharon typically fed Lucky by the rock den that is visible from the Pond Cam. Whenever Lucky saw her there, he’d mob her for the bottle, the mealworms in her pockets, and the other foods she brought.
Lucky and Sharon - August 12, 2007One hot day after feeding, Lucky followed Sharon to the pond and took a swim. He didn’t notice when Sharon left and walked up over the hill to a cedar chip pile where Ted and Honey liked to roll. Donna Andrews knew how much bears like to roll and play in cedar chips, so she had made a big pile for them. You saw the pile in last night’s update in the picture of Lucky and me with a microphone. When Lucky emerged from the pond, he stood and looked all around. He squalled. Sharon stood up and called to him. Lucky came running. Sharon sat down not realizing she was about to find out how playful some cubs can become in cedar chips. Lucky leaped for her head, tumbling her backward in the chips. Play was on. Lucky expressed his playful side more fully with Sharon than we’d ever seen him do before.
Cubs play wildly with their mothers and siblings (like Lily, Hope, and Faith demonstrated), and Sharon was willing to fill that motherly role and develop the bond that goes with it. Lucky rivaled Hope and Faith in his desire to play, and we didn’t want to stifle it. Lucky wasn’t as expressive in his play with me as he was with Sharon. His routine with me was to take my hand in his mouth behind the canine teeth where he wouldn’t be biting into my hand and have a tug of war, pulling and shaking my hand like he was shaking prey. He bit too hard at times (in good spirit) but was reasonably gentle.
![]Lucky with sunflower - July 21, 2007](/images/stories/images/Daily_Updates/20121213_Lucky_sunflower_20070821.jpg)
Lucky with sunflower - August 21, 2007In September, Sharon Herrell, Joel, and others had to return to their home states. Lucky was mostly without his play partners. What he did next, and who became his next “mother,” are topics for Lucky, Part 4 (tomorrow).
We wish we had a picture of the happy faces at Judy Thon’s birthday lunch yesterday. Fun and joy described the moment. I sat there listening to the staff chatter animatedly with each other. I felt admiration for what Judy has done to pull the staff together. At the Bear Center, they work together, dividing tasks, and stepping up to do whatever is needed. They tell me how eager they are to come to work and take initiative for new tasks. These qualities are part of the reason I call them The Miracle Team.
We have been appreciating the expressions of support you are giving us at this time. Thank you. Also, regarding another kind of support, we received checks from GiveMN today totaling $47,281.29 from your giving for Give to the Max day back on November 15. These donations will show up on the thermometer for the Hope Learning Center soon. This leaves less than $300,000 to go for the building itself. The walls are coming next week. Thank you again.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center