RC watching deer - Aug 3 The highlights of the Black Bear Field Course so far were meeting many bears as neighbors called and invited us over. Last evening, we visited 15-year-old RC and her 3 cubs (1 male, 2 females). Nervous RC is great for teaching body language, and she didn’t disappoint the course participants. She demonstrated a lunge, blow, and ground slap that we know to be harmless but is startling nevertheless. Participants remarked how the demonstration seemed to dissipate her tension and how she immediately seemed calm afterward. We all sat down or lay down to watch her. Soon, she ignored us. What caught her intense attention was a passing deer maybe 50 yards away. The photo shows her alert expression.
Fern in woodsThis morning, the highlight was meeting up with 2-year-old Fern who didn’t trust Lynn at first with his wide-brimmed hat. Lynn removed the hat, and she was fine. As Fern happily ate, Lynn combed hair from her back to tape to participants’ certificates. She made no objection when the comb got tangled and pulled too hard. 
No wonder Fern was scared!All the while, Fern refuted misconception after misconception by just being herself—same as bear after bear had done earlier. Participants who were timid at first soon saw the truth about black bears and became confident.
Hike in woodsWe stopped by Jewel’s den she shared with yearlings Fern and Herbie two winters ago. The den held up this spring despite extra meltwater from one of the snowiest winters on record, and is still intact and ready for future occupants. 
Lizzy explores deep rock denThat den will be added to our list of dens we have been checking nearly annually for re-use as far back as 1970.
Tiny wood frogThen we made the usual trek through the beautiful forest to Lily’s deep rock den, which is another den we will check annually for re-use. Sharp-eyed participants spotted bits of wildlife along the way and snapped pictures. Young wood frogs maybe a half inch from nose to “tail” were abundant in one spot. The picture of the participant holding one shows the size.
Garter snakeFarther along, we wondered what a couple crouching participants were photographing. It was the first garter snake we have seen this year. A nice thing about this area is that snake-bite is not a worry. Our biggest snake is the garter snake which anyone can pick up with no worry of a bite breaking the skin or causing any discomfort as one participant demonstrated.
Deer and fawnsNext was the pontoon pilgrimage to the den where Hope was born and a check of the first white pine that Hope climbed and the eagles nest that was recently built in it. Along the way, we quietly drifted close to loons and doe with fawns that paid little attention to us. A pair of loons continued to feed near the boat in water lit by sunshine and blue sky as cameras clicked. Beautiful.
Loon with veil of water dropletsToday was a joy getting to know great new Lily Fans, having fun with returnees, meeting many bears, and exploring nature at a relaxed pace. That and Sharon Herrell’s food are hard to beat.
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.