Doe looking in windowLast night, after not seeing a bear at his feeding station since October 14, a landowner called to say a bear showed up. This might be the latest we have heard of one at a feeding station ever. It coincided with the 2nd day of deer hunting season. We know that bears are often scared from their dens in deer season, which is why we generally check occupied dens again after the season to make sure they are still there.
This year, deer season ends on November 23 and, in this area, is bucks only. That same landowner is happy that it is bucks only because he is the one with the doe that will eat out of his food bucket while he is carrying it. Here at WRI, we like to see the deer, nearly all does, that have learned our ways and will continue feeding on grass while we do routine things outside. When we’re inside, the deer completely accept seeing us in the windows. 
Deer on scale at WRIThey look at us in the window as they calmly get on the scale. A doe on the scale yesterday weighed 165 pounds.
Here at the WRI, it was a day of Ecology Hall work on the computer. The view out the window was Woods Lake completely iced over (high in the low 20°’s F).
At the Bear Center, Scott reported that Ted is snuggled deep in straw, Lucky hasn’t stirred, and Holly wasn’t seen. When Scott tried to get a picture of Honey snuggled in the straw of Ted’s old Chalet den, she was out on one of her walks. She is on a different genetic schedule.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.