Jewel and fussy cub - Jan 8, 2013 We never realized how loud some bear dens can be. Fern is insistent when it comes to nursing, even though there’s little or no milk. It seems they must be getting something. Otherwise, why would they fuss so? Is it just a taste? We do know that suckling alone is a strong drive. We remember a captive grizzly cub that would get frustrated and bite hard if a person didn’t let him suckle the skin on his or her forearm. We love the contented sounds when Jewel accommodates her huge cubs.
Unmistakably Fern - Jan 8, 2013Herbie and Fern look so much alike, how did we know Fern was the one fussing to nurse? Well, she conveniently turned backside to us and we spotted the long hairs that identify her as female. Another way to tell the two apart is from nursing position. Herbie ‘owns’ the pair of nipples on the right side of Jewel’s chest and Fern ‘owns’ the left. This doesn’t mean they won’t snitch each other’s—in fact it’s common. You can see a good example of snitching in a video of them from April 21, 2012 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLBGoMLbXjQ. Fern comes down the tree and settles in to nurse on Herbie’s side. She switches over to her side just before Herbie gets there.
Ted sound asleep - Jan 8, 2013At the Bear Center, all is quiet. 
Lucky? You in there? - Jan 8, 2013 The bears are sleeping peacefully like we expect lone bears to do—like we saw Whiteheart do in the very first Den Cam back in January-April 2000. This is the first year since 2008 that all the bears have denned alone. Without a playmate or restless roommate, they are sleeping quietly. Ted didn’t lift his head when Judy Thon peeked in and took his picture today, and there are no tracks outside his den—outside any of the 3 dens. Lucky has so much straw filling his den that he’s not even visible from outside.
Honey's den - Jan 8 2013Honey has rearranged her straw a bit but not ventured out. She is not distracted by food like she was a couple years ago when we thought food-balls on an old Christmas tree would make the PondCam more interesting with birdlife. Finally, we’re seeing Ted, Honey, and Lucky spend the winter more like wild bears do. We’re anxious to get a Den Cam in Ted’s den, but the Technology Team is using his equipment to help them troubleshoot issues with Lily's Den Cam.
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Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center