Crackle in shade - July 2310-year-old Crackle looks different in different lights. He has shed most of his light brown fur and has grown in darker fur that will turn light by next summer. At dusk or at night, he looks almost black. In the sun, he looks a beautiful brown. All three pictures were taken within a few minutes yesterday.
Crackle in sun - July 23Crackle is a gentle, trusting, respectful bear. We have not heard of anyone reporting him as a nuisance—or even seeing him. We have enjoyed watching him grow from a cub to an adult and then developing the wider head of a full-grown male. He could add some size and weight in the next couple years. 
Crackle shedding - July 23Our data from the old study in which we tranquilized and measured and weighed bears in the 1970’s showed that males reached full size at about 12 years of age. After that, growth was negligible (asymptotic).
Today, this bird landed just outside the office window—a purple finch (Carpodacus purpureus)—and was beautiful on this day with light breezes, puffy clouds, and temperatures in the low 70’s.
Purple finchOff now to the Eagles Nest Township Ice Cream Social to learn the latest from the community.
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.