Juliet approaches - May 3Juliet didn’t go back the white pine last evening, so her cubs were apparently with her, which would explain the slow travel. This evening, the cubs experienced their first thunder and lightning (50 F). We know from accompanying bears that thunderstorms put them up trees, usually the biggest tree around. We don’t know that any have been killed by lightning striking those trees, but their generalized response to danger, climbing trees, doesn’t seem adaptive when it comes to lightning. But maybe they’d be extra vulnerable to predation on the ground. We don’t know which would be the greater danger.
Ray sits on branch - May 3Aster continued her long movements despite her healing left front leg. Since yesterday, she covered 3 miles as she moved to the den where she was born in January 2011. A problem is that Jewel and her cubs are hanging out in that area. That may be why Aster suddenly took off, covering 0.9 mile in 24 minutes (2.25 MPH).
Ray climbs down - May 3Lily, Eli, and Ellie put in their first appearance at a feeding station today—the owners were happy to see them.
At the Bear Center, the word is that Holly stopped scratching this evening. Could the medicine have worked that quickly? The staff put a bundle of cedar chips outside Holly’s den, and she went to work raking them in.
Lucky climbs cedarLucky was full of vim and vigor today and asked to be let out of his holding pen. The staff let him out and decided to let him roam outside all night. But with thunder and lightning looming, and knowing that Lucky doesn’t like it, they left his gate open in case he wants to take refuge in his den. We’ll see where he spends the night. As part of his show of energy today, he climbed the cedar we planted in front of the viewing area, and a Pond Chatter captured the moment. We want Lucky to climb that tree and regularly check up there for food so viewers can see his power and agility in climbing and get eye level pictures of him from the viewing deck.
Thanks to staff and Lily Fan volunteers, Honey’s new pen has only a couple items to complete. All much appreciated.
For those interested in the experience of a lifetime, we have a few places left in the 2014 Black Bear Field Study courses. See more online at http://www.bearstudy.org/website/field-study-courses.html.
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.