Lily lies on her back in labor - Jan 12, 2013 Thank goodness the Lily Den Cam was up and running when Lily rolled onto her back just before 1:00 AM and pushed in full view. Lying on her back differed from her previous births and from what we expected. The first cub was soon delivered and a second followed 20 minutes later. The cubs’ little motors were soon humming along in unison—or rather ‘squeaking’ along in unison. Their voices are getting stronger and stronger as the hours go by and we are now hearing the more familiar hum. Lily has been hunkered down over them, warming them with her breath. The temperature has dropped from above freezing (with rain) at the time of the birth to only 9 degrees now.
Lily gives birth - Jan 12, 2013Many of you are operating on little sleep today—we are too. A video of the births is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGXeFNJXeXQ.
We’re wondering if any Lily Fans guessed anywhere near the real date—2 cubs on January 12. We certainly wouldn’t have guessed that here! We thought we knew when cubs were born. Lily showed us there is considerable variation in birthing dates.
Jewel - Jan 12, 2013Lily Fans couldn’t have picked a better time for the ‘virtual baby shower’ fundraiser on Lily the Black Bear’s Facebook. They held it today and will hold it again tomorrow (Sunday). See the Lily the Black Bear Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/lily.the.black.bear for more details. Sounds like the fun of the old days! We saw $1,300 added to the thermometer for the Hope Learning Center today! Thank you!
We haven’t forgotten about doing a series on Ted and Honey’s early days in Wisconsin and at the Bear Center. It might be a month before pictures are available from their cub days.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center