Jewel with halo of ribbons - Jan 29, 2013We didn’t have much chance to check on the Den Cams today, but what little we saw was bears being quiet and inactive despite it being a warm day with temperatures in the high 20’sF. The official Den-Watchers were recording, though. Thank goodness for them.
4-year-old Star's den - Jan 26, 20134-year-old Star has at least one cub. The date of birth is unknown as is usually the case without Den Cams, but as of Saturday, January 26, she had given birth. Glenn Krause checked on her from a distance and heard a cub voice. He snapped a couple quick pictures of the den and left. So, there could be a sleeper that didn’t have time to announce his or her presence.
Red fox looking healthy - Jan 29, 2013Yesterday, the fox with the trap on its right front foot was spotted back in the neighborhood. A conservation officer was not far behind. According to residents who talked with her, a motorist had seen the fox in the neighborhood and called the DNR. The conservation officer told residents the fox had been seen nearly 4 miles away a few days before and that its wide travels were generating angry calls about trapping. She wanted to put the fox out of its misery.
But when it comes to wildlife, opinions are bound to differ. Residents who have seen the fox would like to live-capture it to remove the trap and let healing begin. They say the fox is strong and otherwise healthy and deserves a chance. It goes about its travels and feeding with no sign of pain. In its month in the trap, the fox has learned to hop along without stepping on the chain and tripping.
Jewel licks yearling's ear - Jan 29, 2013It’s hard to say who is right. Lynn remembers, though, an adolescent bear that had been hit by a car. The bear was lying beside the road too dazed to get up. He thought maybe it should be put out of its misery as soon as possible, but it had strong vital signs. He cautiously picked it up and carried it deep into the woods and laid it on a mossy bed. A friend brought the bear food and water each day. By the second day, the bear was recovered enough to be fearful of his friend and chop its jaws. The next day, the bear was gone. We also remember Blackheart, Braveheart, Jo, and a couple others that survived being hit by cars and being out of commission for a while.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center