Maple leaves turning - 9-21-14A 22-year-old hiker was apparently killed by a black bear in New Jersey—the first person killed in New Jersey in history. The story is at http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Bear-Attack-Hiker-New-Jersey-Kill-Death-Edison-West-Milford-275987891.html. Officials are investigating. We are waiting for more information. The eastern United States is where black bears mingle with more people but kill fewer than anywhere in their range which covers most of North America. Official quotes in the article were correct about the rarity. About one black bear in a million kills someone.
American CrowHere in the study area, blue skies and the brief bright beauty of the maples is the start of the color season. It’s also migration season when sharp-shinned hawks put on their annual flight displays chasing blue jays and crows. In the hundreds of chases we’ve seen, the only kill we have witnessed was one dropping on a white-throated sparrow busy eating on the ground some 25 years ago. The crow in the picture has very worn tail feathers that are due to molt shortly.
On this quiet day alone in the office, we are looking forward to the excitement of the annual gathering of Lily Fans at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota, on November 1st . Details are at https://www.facebook.com/events/1453217258283352/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.