Ted greets Lynn with friendly gruntsLynn and Judy Thon quietly checked on Ted, Lucky, and Honey to see if they had been out. No tracks at Lucky and Honey’s den. Yesterday’s excursion in response to 3 hours of familiar voices was enough for a while.
Ted and Lynn touch lipsTed could see Lynn and Judy, and his musical grunts of greeting were too much for Lynn. Using the excuse that he wanted to put the straw bale where it wasn’t blocking the entrance, Lynn approached Ted’s den. His grunts grew stronger. He came out. Lynn felt honored to hear the grunts, see Ted’s extended tongue (another form of greeting and friendship), and feel Ted touch lips, all as the grunts continued. 
Ellie looks down at EliThat is a full bear greeting.
Okay, maybe it doesn’t quite match the twice-told story of Gerry sniffing Lynn’s breath and jumping on him after years of separation, but Ted made Lynn’s day today—like an early birthday present.
Family time in Lily's denTed had his own ideas where the straw bale should be. As soon as Lynn and Judy left, Ted put it back where it was in front of his den.
Synchronized yawning?Your choices of Eli and Ellie are popular with everyone we talk with. The names sound a bit like Lily to show the family connection. They sound like Ely to show homage (as the Duluth News Tribune put it) to the area where these bears live. The connection to Ely also reflects the attachment Lily Fans have shown to the area where the bears live and echoes the benefits you have directed to this area in many ways.
Two cubs peek up from belowLynn tried to say that in a halting way in an interview for tonight’s news broadcasts on Duluth Channel 6 (KBJR-TV) at 5, 6, and 10 PM.
The PTZ camera outside Lily's den went online today. It appears as a separate tab on the Lily Den Cam at http://www.bear.org/website/live-cameras/live-cameras/lilys-den-cam.html. There are now 3 tabs; WildEarth.tv, UStream.tv, and The PTZ Camera. You can activate both views—inside and out—and easily switch back and forth between them.
Eli hangs from the raftersVideos of yesterday's Lily, Ellie, and Eli exploits are Part I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm5S41Rqt00 and Part II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGJX8L7SUwY. Videos from today will be posted later this evening on YouTube's bearstudy channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/bearstudy/videos?view=0&flow=grid. We have over 500 videos posted there! Part II of today's videos features Eli hanging in front of the camera tube and dropping down to the lower level of the den—like his sister did a couple days ago. The cubs aren't actually leaving the den as some have assumed. They are merely exploring another area of the den out of sight of the camera.
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.