June Jim Stroner changed June’s GPS batteries this evening and walked with her briefly to document her behavior. During the hour he was with her, she raided 3 underground hornet nests and tried for a fourth that was high in a sapling that proved too small to climb. June tore into the nests to reach the hornet brood, endured multiple stings, and then searched for more.
Hornet nest high in saplingJune is the bear we’ve spent the most time with over the years, walking with her since 2004. She’s the bear most valuable for future research as her daughters (Lily, Jewel, Aster) and granddaughters (Faith, Fern) vie for parts of her past and present territories. We have never had an opportunity like this to study land tenure and mother-daughter-granddaughter relations as they all vie for territories in which to raise their cubs.
June looks up at hornet nestWe're looking for a volunteer experienced in human resources or volunteer coordination to take over the reins as our Volunteer Coordinator beginning Oct 1. After two years at the helm, our current coordinator Myra Fournier is stepping down to concentrate on family matters. Please take a look at the position description at www.bear.org/website/volunteer.html and contact Myra at
We’re working hard on final preparations for the bear hunt that begins Sunday. Anxiety is high. Thank you for your words of support.
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.