Jewel and yearling - Jan 24, 2013 Life when it’s this cold is mostly indoors. It was minus 24 in Ely among the buildings and chimneys, but fluctuated between minus 29 and minus 35 along the 14 miles of highway to the Research Center. Without wind, warm and cold air pockets don’t get mixed. Now it’s zero and warm enough to snow, and snow is predicted for tonight.
The meeting about wiring and technology for the Hope Learning Center was productive. Sue’s car wouldn’t start in the cold, so she missed it. Ideas flowed from the 6 people who made it and 2 on speakerphone. The top words were outlets, wireless, Smartboards, HDX3, conduit, interactive, Cat 6, distance learning, touch screen, lumens, LED lights, and economical. Judy Thon is deciphering her notes.
Lily’s Den Cam continues to act up, and the Tech Team is talking about dropping back to a 3G cell signal to see if that is a steadier signal. The puzzle is that things are working okay at Jewel’s den with the 4G signal.
Jewel took advantage of the warmer temps this afternoon—after minus 35F, zero degrees certainly feels warmer! Jewel chewed a twig, pawed at the dirt walls of the den, and rearranged bedding before settling back in. While she worked with her back to the entrance, one of the yearlings was bawling so loudly we would swear there was a lion in that den! Could that big noise possibly be coming from little Fern? Makes us wonder what will emerge from that den next spring…lions, tigers, or bears?
A video of Jewel and her yearlings today is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhl0z3wbcSE.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center