Faith - 08/09/11It started last night with the latest bear visit we’ve ever had here. I could see out the window that it was an adolescent male, probably 2 or 3 years old—probably the same bear that visited another feeding station the night before. That landowner said the bear was very skittish and fled just from seeing a person moving in the window. I know some bears are extra skittish as they get close to hibernation, and this one may have already been in a den and got scared out. He hadn’t seen me in the window because his head was behind a tree, probably concentrating on noises from the 5 deer 30-40 yards away. I quietly went out the door to see how he’d react to me as a start toward identifying him. I peered around the corner of the WRI cabin. Gone. But it was exciting to see a bear this late.
Lily the Black Bear - Autumn 2009The next bright spot was hearing from my old friend former State Senator Satveer Chaudhary, former chair of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. First, he recalled staying here with his wife and newborn son and having Blackheart stand up tall against the picture window when his son was crying. Mothers with cubs respond and want to help anything that sounds like a cub. His son is 10 now. Then we talked about how much I wished he was still in office these last few years with the DNR problems. He was the one who made sure the DNR treated me fairly in 2008 when they decided to do a “review” of my study with an eye toward ending it.
Then I received Susan Moloney’s 53rd poem telling the story of Lily and her family in rhyme. Reading that, I was touched by the long-term support so many Lily Fans show day after day.
Lily and Hope - 07/18/10Finally, I reviewed the Foreword, Epilogue, and Acknowledgements for Olatz’ 4th and 5th books that, when published, will complete her story of Lily and her family. Total pages in her 5 lavishly illustrated, large format books, each titled Lily and Hope: the Light of the Northwoods (plus a subtitle), is about 2,000 pages. I began reading critically, as instructed, but soon realized that Olatz was summing up their lives with a philosophy and insight that few can muster. She gets it and knows how to tell it. I would love to quote parts of it but know it is too late in Spain to seek her permission today.
For me, between the poem, the books, and all the help Lily Fans have been giving lately and over the years, I was struck thinking how what began with us learning together from Lily and Hope in 2010 has turned into a global community of friends and like-minded people using time, talents, and support to spread the truth about bears. The thought of this is both humbling and inspiring, and we will continue in any way we can.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.