Jewel's winter coat is almost gone!The bear course group met Jewel this morning, but when they tried for Juliet this afternoon, she had other ideas. She was close to a forest road when Lynn headed out with the group, but moved away as they traveled there. Hoping she would stop to forage, they attempted to catch up to her, but eventually realized it was futile. Good thing they stopped. Juliet ended up 3.5 miles away!
Bear trailThe group returned for a pontoon boat ride to see the den where Lily gave birth to Hope…the place where it all began.
After supper, a few hearty souls joined Sue for a session on ‘bear sign.’ There really have been very few bears around this year to leave fresh sign, but the sign on trees and poles is still visible and informative. And the local ‘bear trail’ is worn so deeply into the substrate that it is prominent as well.
Bear marking treeWe look forward to the festivities of the 4th annual Lilypad Picnic this weekend—a chance to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. We’re still working at putting faces with names we have come to know so well. We wish everyone safe travels!
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.