Honey rakes in beddingThe big action, or lack of it, today was with Ted, Lucky, and Honey. With Thanksgiving approaching, all are right on schedule slowing down, losing appetite, and getting ready to call it a year.
Lily Fans noticed, and one captured Honey on video as she actively prepared her bed in her chosen den—the wooden window den. The video can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUNLjGRt9D4&feature=c4-overview&list=UUM4kDHZ0t8GX7WAJ0gqJDxg.
For the last few days, she has been rearranging the straw inside the den. Today, she moved some straw out and then raked it back in, just as we have seen with wild bears we’ve observed around-the-clock during den preparation.
We remember back in the old days watching a mother with cubs all raking bedding into a den. The den was visible across a valley from a road where we could watch from a vehicle. The mother never seemed satisfied with how the cubs arranged the bedding they raked in. She would pull it out and rake it back in to her liking.
Another reason we think Honey is settling in is that she made only a brief walk to the fence to half-heartedly ask for food today. Before anyone could respond, she headed back into her den.
Ted would barely lift his head when offered food. Lucky hasn’t stirred for days. Not much different from years past. All getting ready for a long winter’s rest.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center