Lucky with his Teddy - Oct 30, 2007We’re a little fuzzy on dates for this update because Donna Andrews’ Daily Logs for 2007 to 2012 have come up missing.
Before getting into the pre-hibernation period of late fall, let’s back up to late summer when Lucky’s toys began disappearing—his big blue boat bumper, a teddy bear, and more. Eventually, the staff tracked them down to a day bed Lucky had made back in the woods. Lucky spent so much time at his out-of-the-way day bed that the staff thought he might spend the winter there. So, in early October, Randy Herrell and Glenn Krause brought a den-sized plastic igloo to see if Lucky might want to use it. 
Lucky playing with his blue tube - Oct 20, 2007Years before (in 2004) we had used the igloo in a hibernation exhibit at an early version of the Bear Center a quarter mile from the International Wolf Center.
Another memory of summer was Lucky crawling through big hollow logs playing peek-a-boo with squirrels and the big bears. These were logs that bee-keeper Ike Strohmayer donated for the bears. Ike was the bee expert who worked with us on the BBC Life 
Lucky in his igloo - Dec 11, 2007Series that year. He had found big hollow logs for his part of the film—bears versus bees. He and we thought the hollow logs would be perfect for the Bear Center bears—for Lucky to crawl though, for Ted or Honey to rest their paws on, and for us to hide food in. 
Lucky on hollow log - Oct 28, 2007When we finished filming, Ike trucked the best logs to the Bear Center. All too soon, Lucky got too big to crawl through them, but the picture of Ted resting with his paws on the biggest log has become iconic.
In last night’s update, Ted and Lucky bonded as play partners in late October. Favorite places for play were Donna Andrews’ cedar chip pile, Ike Strohmayer’s logs, and anywhere the urge to play overtook them. They played on into mid-November until Ted became too lethargic. On November 16 and 17, Lucky turned to a different kind of play and starred in some of the best video Donna Andrews captured of Lucky—his first time on ice. What fun! The video is priceless http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1vr462RPl4.
Lucky licks snow - Nov 6, 2007Around Thanksgiving, 861-pound Ted retired to his big bunker den for the winter. Lucky might have denned with Ted that fall, but we were cautious. We still had some false notions about hibernation. We were afraid what might happen if Ted rolled on little Lucky, so Donna Andrews locked Lucky out of Ted’s den to be on the safe side. Lucky moved into his igloo with his blanket, a teddy bear, and toys he’d moved up there earlier.
Lucky in snow - Nov 5, 2007He still made the occasional trip down to the Bear Center building, though. After a big snowfall (18 inches) about the first of December, Sharon Herrell and Donna Andrews walked up to Ted’s den to see if he’d been out leaving tracks. Lucky heard them. By the time Donna and Sharon got back down to the Bear Center building, Lucky was there waiting for them, bawling for contact. They stepped into the enclosure with him, and the 80-pound cub climbed up Sharon, grabbing her arms for support. He nuzzled her face and licked her. He made no attempt to play. He just wanted to snuggle and be close. A few minutes later, Donna Andrews either walked him up to his igloo, or both she and Sharon left.
Lucky running in snow - Nov 26, 2007As Lucky slowed for winter in November and December, Donna Andrews spent time with him. One of the reasons she had earlier discouraged play with him was so Lucky would be a good companion for her to walk with and learn from in the enclosure. Donna had often said how she wished she could walk with bears out in the woods and see how they lived. She wanted to go beyond walking among them in and adjacent to feeding sites like the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary and certain households in Eagles Nest Community. She doted on walking with Lucky in the enclosure when he grew up. Fall 2007 was the beginning of that when Lucky mellowed out and was not so driven to play. Donna Andrews told me some of her favorite moments with Lucky was during the quiet times of that fall.
Lucky by rock den - Dec 10, 2007Donna Andrews wanted the very best for Lucky. In case Ted or Honey might investigate Lucky’s igloo and corner him in it at some point, she cut out a rear exit. For hibernation, she made sure he had his blanket, teddy bear, and lots of straw inside. She packed more straw around the outside for insulation and at the entrances to reduce wind. Lucky was lucky. Around Christmas, he settled down for the winter.
When I got home last night, I found that tragedy had struck Connecticut. When I think of my own kids when they were 6 to 7 years old, my heart goes out to the parents. We send our deepest heartfelt sympathies to all who are in mourning.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center