Lorie and Mike ready to flyLily fans are making a tremendous showing during this Give to the Max Day (http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Bears), pushing the North American Bear Center currently to No. 1 on the Greater Minnesota Leaderboard and in close competiton for No. 3 on the Medium NonProfits Leaderboard. Competitors are close behind.
But donors were stymied for hours this afternoon when the GiveMN site crashed. Finally, it is up and running again and Lily Fans are shining.
Max the Bear is blogging at www.MaxTheBear.com until midnight, and you can talk to him on the Bear Center Pond Chat at http://www.bear.org/website/live-cameras/live-cameras/nabc-webcam.html until 9 PM.
Mike ready for takeoffIn the research bear world, Lorie and Mike flew today to pinpoint Faith’s den. They spotted a snowmobile trail that comes close enough to her den for them to walk in as soon as barrier marshes freeze over. The goal will be to confirm that Faith is okay and in a den.
Who would predict that little Faith who grew up eating at community feeding sites from time to time and totally trusting people at those sites would establish her territory miles from any human residence? She probably never saw a person this year other than the occasional researcher that changed her GPS batteries when she was in reasonably accessible areas. Her behavior is contrary to what many would predict but is in keeping with what we have seen with other bears. As the studies continue, bear after bear is providing solid data to replace speculation and old beliefs that have long stood in the way of science. Research and education are the keys to coexistence.
Thank you for all you are doing on this big day.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos were taken today unless otherwise noted.