Lily (high def) 
Lily and cubs (high def) This morning, Ted Parvu switched both the Lily Den Cam and the Jewel Den Cam to 720P—high definition. The cameras have had that capability right along, but we have kept them ‘dumbed down’ because of the problems we have had with transmission. Once the antenna issue was figured out to better deal with the strong Verizon signal, we knew we should be able to transmit in high definition. So far, so good.
Cub yawns as it lies on Lily (low res)Actually, that's an understatement. The images today in Lily’s den were stunning—as you can see here. The improved quality gives us the option of using some of this footage for display on big screens in the Bear Center.
Whose feet? - front right, left rear, left front (low res)Currently our “How Mothers Care for Cubs in the Den” exhibit features footage we shot in June’s den when Lily was a cub. We obtained that footage by placing a big camera in her den and letting it run for an hour as we stood quietly outside and shivered. June is comfortable with us, so the camera only briefly disturbed her. The resulting video shows June caring for her 3 cubs the same as we see Lily caring for her cubs—undisturbed.
Lily and cub (high def)We lucked out and got some great footage that day with June. However, Lily’s den cam is providing us with a wider array of behaviors we could share with visitors to the Bear Center. Lily’s high def den cam footage is black and white, but no matter—it’s the behaviors captured that are important. We’re hopeful we will be able to continue transmitting at 720P.
Lily and cub (high def)Again, we have 2 videos of Lily and cubs. Part I is low resolution footage shot prior to the switch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcoKUCD8IpA, and Part II is the new 720P high resolution footage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODFxrP8gl70. If you watch them full-screen you should see a difference in the quality.
The link to vote for Jim Stroner's ScienceFriday contest photo is http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/311854/voteable_entries/65495698.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.