Juliet - March 5, 2014In this 8-minute highlight video of Juliet and cubs from March 5, 2014, the video starts at 9:14 AM with temperatures warming 57°F from 35° below zero to 22° above zero. An exposed cub is not protesting, and we see eyeshine on at least 2 cubs, meaning their eyes are opening as one would expect at 41 days of age (Born the morning of January 23). They are on schedule with the bear literature which says eye opening is at 6 weeks. We don’t know if the author who wrote that meant fully open or starting to open, which can differ by over a week and, as we have seen, with individuals.
Eye shine in cub - March 5, 2014The archived video showed that Juliet ate snow for a half minute at 1:30 PM from the back of the den but did not visit the latrine. Here is the link to the archive if you want to see it: http://vimeopro.com/bearstudy/20140305/video/88307026.
Last night was the end of the bitter cold nights for a week or so. We’re expecting more views of the cubs. If we can distinguish individuals well enough, maybe we can document the opening of each individual’s eyes.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wntucTUZ8iA
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/121345393
Archives: http://www.bearstudy.org/website/research/2014-juliet-archives.html
Honey in her window denAt the Bear Center, the light was right to see the pock-marked snow outside Honey’s den. She is eating snow just like Juliet does in the videos. Honey is in the foreground but hard to see in the shadows deep in straw behind the dirty window.
Odometer readingToday, my odometer showed what I hoped was a good omen for things coming together in order for the Northwoods Ecology Hall (or just a hopeful frivolity). All the numbers were in perfect order except the last one, which would have been a 1 if I had paid attention sooner. But 9 out of 10 might still be a good omen. If it isn’t, I hope the odometer doesn’t forecast anything.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.