Lucky returns to his den Three hours of friendly voices were more tantalizing than Honey and Lucky could stand as Judy Thon, Sharon Herrell, and Ted Parvu moved Ted’s Den Cam. Lucky was braver about the snow than big Ted was yesterday. He plowed right through it to greet the familiar people by Ted’s den. Ted saw Lucky and expressed anxiety. Lucky was calm and interested mostly in the people. The keepers closed Ted’s door to give him more security.
Honey hurries backHoney then popped out of her den to check out the action. She followed in Lucky’s footprints until she saw Lucky and did double time back to her den, giving frequent looks over her shoulder on the way. Lucky followed, but Honey wasn’t accepting company just then. It wasn’t like the time she invited Lucky to sleep with her for the winter. It wasn’t like the time she decided to bunk with Lucky another winter. It was the 3 bears’ first meetings in months. Maybe it all happened a little too fast today.
Lily plays with her cubsIn the woods, Jewel and her yearlings were moving around in their den and kicking up a dust cloud. A ring of brown dust is visible on the snow around the den entrance in the picture of Jewel’s den in last night’s update.
Lily and cubLily’s den was hopping with action. Lily’s cubs are gaining new skills daily and are certainly fit to follow whenever that day comes. Ellie now rakes bedding right along with Lily (see Part II of yesterday's video) and she’s ramped up her gymnastics routine as can be seen in this short video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwJn-buXxxw. Eli still needs a net.
Lily licks a dangling twigIt all makes a person wonder when each bear will leave its den for good.
Eli and Ellie up to mischiefToday was a good day for bears. Bev and Nadine’s press release about Lily and Jewel’s Den Cams got a good reception worldwide. Media in at least 18 countries picked it up, watched the Den Cams, and spread the word. Probably the best thing anyone can do for bears is let people see what these animals are really like. Lily and Jewel have a few weeks to do that yet, we think. Thank you Bev and Nadine and all who helped. Bev emailed, “These are the days so many of us volunteers appreciate. Global acknowledgement about the peaceful demeanor of a magnificent animal our country is so lucky to have.”
Two videos of Lily and cubs from yesterday are Part I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1ptMES8Cvo and Part II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rJXaW-UN2w.
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.