Ted and Lucky - June 1, 2008Lucky continued sporadic playfulness with people through the summer of 2008, but he much preferred playing with Ted. As Lucky got bigger and stronger, he sometimes was able to topple Big Ted and get on him for a new kind of rowdy but gentle play.
Lucky playing alone - May 15, 2008One day, I got to see what it feels like and learned you really have to be a bear to do it right. I wasn’t much of a challenge. Lucky and I were back in the woods checking the availability of berries and the contents of bear scats when Lucky got an urge to play. He easily tackled me by wrapping a paw around both ankles and toppling me onto my back. He immediately was on me mouthing my throat, head, and arms. 
Lucky by stump - Aug 1, 2008I squirmed under his weight, trying to roll him off or buck him off but I could never use both arms at a time. All I could muster were feeble attempts with an arm in an awkward position. I tried hitting him on a shoulder, but he paid no attention. He was probably used to Ted’s playful cuffs that look like they hit fairly hard sometimes—certainly harder than I did. He expertly gripped me or braced himself in ways that made my effort ineffective. He wore me out. Finally, I somehow slid out from under him and stood up. He probably just grew bored with my feeble play and let me up. He sat calmly, maybe satisfied with his dominance, and watched me walk away trying to recover my breath.
Lucky lounging - Aug 1, 2008Although he was strong, everything he did was gentle. I was unmarked. I had none of the bruises and scratches I’m left with after encounters with hard-biting, sharp-clawed cubs. By then, Lucky had the strong but dull claws of an adult—claws perfect for climbing trees or light digging but not the sharp claws of a cat for holding prey.
Lucky in tree - Sept 1, 2008The unintended play session with Lucky brought back good memories of Gerri, the only free-ranging bear that ever really like me. She had been raised by people for the critical March and early April bonding period and somehow took to me when we met at an airport on April 7, 1989. The story of that meeting and what followed is at http://tinyurl.com/Foster-Families-for-Cubs.
Lucky and Honey - Sept 18, 2008Gerri had spent a month or two with people before I met her, but officials who talked me into taking her into my study told me that human contact had been kept to a minimum. Later, I learned the opposite was true, which explains why she was looking for a human friend. Somehow, Gerri and I took to each other and we are friends for life.
Ted and Lucky in den - Oct 20, 2008The memory that Lucky brought back was of Gerri and I running through the woods escaping danger until she felt safe enough to tackle me. She, too, mouthed my throat and head as we rolled around on the ground. In play sessions like that, I’d eventually get an arm in her mouth, grab a paw and roll her on her back, and rub her belly. That made her eyes glaze over, relax, and love it. When she had cubs, she was occupied with motherhood, but even then I could gather her up in my arms and have her relax and look around as she’d done growing up with me. The story of Gerri is one I’d love to share at some point—in a book or abbreviated in a series of updates.
Ted and Lucky in Autumn - Oct 10, 2008Back to Lucky. In the fall of 2008, Lucky would have denned with his buddy Ted except that we locked him out again. Ted would rest with his head at the den entrance, and when Lucky tried to squeeze in or out past him, stepping on him, Ted got upset. We were afraid Lucky might get hurt, and we probably over-protected him.
Lucky and Kelby in den - Nov 8, 2008One of the pictures shows a moment that fall when Ted was out of that den and our college intern Kelby crawled in by Lucky for a picture. Fun. I’m sure Kelby still has that picture.
Lucky walking in snow - Nov 15, 2008Later that fall, Lucky and Honey surprised us big time. Lucky was walking by her den when Honey, the same bear that had mostly chased Lucky during the summer was saying sweet nothings. She was giving the most inviting, high-pitched grunts. Lucky responded immediately. He walked over, touched noses, and snuggled in behind her for the winter. Toward the end of winter, in March, they emerged and played some. But soon they were back to their semi-hostile relationship.
Lucky peeking over Honey in den - Dec 21, 2008Lucky went on playing with Ted through 2009 and 2010 and denned with him at the end of both of those years.
2011 marked a change in Lucky and Ted’s relationship, and that’s the subject for tomorrow in Lucky: Part 8.
What marked today was the final editing of the book “Bear Encounters” written by many of you. It will come out in spring about the same time as Lily Fan Michele Lackner’s book “Finding Hope.”
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center