Patient Jewel - Jan 16, 2013 Well, maybe not so quiet in Jewel’s den. The cubs continue to nurse each day—Fern more so than Herbie, showing variation in the drive to nurse when there is little or no nourishment. A moment of major action occurred when Herbie went to the entrance, presumably to urinate, defecate, or eat snow and then stepped on Jewel and Fern while trying to climb back into the sleepy huddle. Fern took exception. Herbie settled in to nurse. The video shows more at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8tPLO4ytmQ.
Jewel and Herbie - Jan 16, 2013Lily has yet to move her wall of bedding so we aren’t seeing much in her den. However, today we caught a little action. Lily blew at a pesky mouse. See the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aciirPt_6wo. Why would she notice? We’ve seen bears react fearfully to things as small as a monarch butterfly that landed on a bear’s back.
The quiet today was Lynn and Sue sitting at their computers with brains quietly smoking. You could hear a pin drop except for the clicking of the keys and the occasional call to someone with information. There’s a long way to go, but we have to finish the response in the next week so we have time to get ready for other things.
Herbie attempts to rejoin the bear pile - Jan 16, 2013One thing is a big meeting on January 24 with the contractor to talk about technology and wiring for the Hope Learning Center. We’ll have creative and technological minds there for the meeting and we’re always looking for ideas for making it as exciting and educational as can be. Encouraged by the super high def version of Bearwalker now playing in the theatre, we want to have a wall in the new classroom to show Sue’s high def 1080P videos of the research bears life size or larger. Sue is close enough to the bears for good sound, so the students will have the whole package just like they were there in the woods. Other words floating around are Promethius Boards, distance learning, microscopes connected to large screen monitors, touch-screen computer games for younger and older kids, etc.
June & Big Harry nose to nose - July 9, 2012We’re still excited with your responses to the signed Calendar Bundles for memberships or donations over $25 to the Bear Center. The creative NABC staff has added a June & Big Harry ‘Love Mug’ Bundle as a Valentine’s offering. The bundle consists of the June & Bug Harry mug, a bag of North American Bear Center trail mix (things bears like to eat), all wrapped attractively in pretty cellophane with a gift card. Inside the package are words about bears having feelings and long-term relationships as evidenced in part by June and Big Harry’s 5-year (or more) romance.
Both the Calendar Bundle and the Love Mug Bundle can be seen at http://www.bear.org/website/gift-shop.html.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center