RC, Heinrik and VeronicaLast night, RC and her two yearlings Heinrik (dark face) and Veronica (light face) stopped by just before sunset. We checked the records, all three cubs (these two plus Gabrielle) were with RC on her last visit here on August 22, 2014 when hunters’ baiting was ramping up in preparation for the opening of bear hunting season on September 1. That’s the last we saw them. The photos last evening let us identify the 2 survivors. Killing cubs is illegal, but the DNR excused a hunter killing one of RC’s cubs in 2012.
Donald and Daisy, the clean-up crew, did their job and then took a well deserved rest on the pond.
Rose-breasted grosbeak yawnsI’ve hardly seen a bird yawn, but this morning, out the window, a rose-breasted grosbeak sat still on a branch for a long time and then gave a yawn that was so long I could grab the camera and click.
Juneberry blossomsJuneberry leaves are turning red, as they do when young, and are almost prettier than the blossoms.
At the Bear Center, Moe videoed Judy Thon giving a run-through on what will be in the touch-screen kiosks in the Ecology Hall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoxSNY8qh9Y, and staff and volunteers fixed the scale.
The job description for the Volunteer Coordinator position we need to fill by September 1 is at http://www.bear.org/website/volunteer.html.
White-crowned sparrowLily Fans continue to keep Ely in the lead for the title of Best Town at http://www.outsideonline.com/1972941/best-towns-2015. Ely is leading Spearfish, SD 9,948 to 9,744.
Scale repair by Scott and CharlieJarring news came today in a phone call from a knowledgeable insider that the bear feeding language was reinserted into a new bill HF846, Section 97B.427, but another knowledgeable person checked and couldn’t find it there. People are checking further. The session adjourns on Monday, so whatever happens will happen soon. We all tried hard. I’m still optimistic.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.