American ToadFor this first full day of the Bear Course, it was a day of meeting bears and seeing differences in personalities—Braveheart, Ty, Big Harry, One-eyed Jack, Pete, and others.
Helping handsMixed in were two lectures and discussion. For exercise, we walked the beautiful trail to the Deep Rock Den where Lily, Eli, and Ellie spent last winter, and Lily and Faith spent the winter of 2011-12. 
Lynn in rock denThe course participants were so into it that each one, including Lynn and the reporter in the course, climbed down into it. No one wanted to miss out on the opportunity. Limber people did it easily. One older, heavier person (the Bearman) was a little slower but greatly enjoyed his first time in the den.
MushroomAlong the way, eager eyes spotted flowers to identify, berries to share (raspberries, dewberries, strawberries), bright-colored mushrooms, scat (wolf, fox), chorus frogs, baby toads, and the big American Toad that obligingly hopped up on a moss-covered log for a picture.
Once again, it's great when Lily Fans get together.
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.