Aster bites basswoodOur permit report is submitted. Time to catch up on the bear doings.
Yesterday morning, Sue and Bec headed out to locate Juliet and swap out her GPS unit. They began their search at Juliet’s last location, took a telemetry reading, and guessed where she was heading. Hoping to intercept her, they drove to around to that location. It was the right direction, but they were too late. She had been there and gone. Her signal was strong so they continued on down the forest road.
Juliet & yearlings - May 31, 2013In the woods near the road, a yearling bolted—then a collared bear bolted as well. Juliet. A hasty “It’s me, bear!” got her attention and stopped her. She didn’t run, but she also didn’t come. Well, she began to come but then sat, scratched, and looked around. She was more interested in where her yearlings were than us. She spotted her 3 young ones and trotted to them grunting. With the family reunited, Sue and Bec approached them and successfully completed the collar work.
June feeding on beaver - May 31, 2013Later, Sue took Bec to meet June…and then abandoned her there. Actually that was the plan. Bec needed time with a bear to gain experience negotiating a working relationship—something that can only be taught by the bear, and June is an excellent teacher.
June rests - May 31, 2013After the ‘meet and greet,’ Sue headed back to her car while Bec followed June into a grove of cedars. June immediately uncovered a fresh carcass she had buried with vegetation and began feeding on it. A beaver! Sue received a text with the news before she reached her car.
Bec’s bear walk was another ‘bear sit’ as June ate, slept, and nursed her cubs. Yes, June’s cubs came down this time with a person present. The time Sue spent sitting near their bed tree the other day paid off. The cubs will still be cautious, but slowly they will learn to take cues from June. If she is relaxed they will relax some as well.
Aster rubs basswoodEarly this morning Jim and Bec located Aster to change her GPS batteries. They took the opportunity to spend some time following her—the first time she has been walked with since she separated from June a year ago. It took about 30 minutes for her to begin ignoring them and going about her bear life. 
Aster in basswoodShe climbed a couple of basswood (Tilia americana) trees and sampled the leaves; marked by biting, rubbing, and stomping; and investigated a dug out beaver lodge.
We are delighted to have Dr. Gordon Burghardt from the University of Tennessee visiting us for a few days. The conversations already have been stimulating and thought provoking. We look forward to more in the days ahead.
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.