Fern and male picnic together on 8-18-15The Black Bear Field Course ended today with a final lecture about black bear biology at the request of a participant who is also part of the Speakers’ Bureau and has a thirst for knowledge to share. Wonderful, the people we meet in the courses.
Then it was to the Bear Center to wind up the wonderful 4 days with the group, followed by more discussion with the staff about how to bring the Bear Center itself up to the new standard we set for ourselves in the Ecology Hall. Exciting. Our enthusiasm reflects the enthusiasm we are hearing from visitors and from organizations that want to emulate us. Encouraging.
Fern with male friend earlier this summerA week ago, the update showed Fern and a male friend feeding nose to nose across a picnic table to the delight of the landowner. We speculated that the male friend was her boyfriend from mating season. Backing up that speculation, a feeder sent us a picture of what we believe is that same male mounting Fern during mating season. We’ll see if the faces of Fern’s cubs reflect that when she gives birth this winter. We very much want to put a Den Cam in Fern’s den.
At the Bear Center, a Lily Fan captured video of Lucky displaying his special methods for getting nuts out of his plastic box with holes in it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo3GghByPOw.
Another Lily Fan asked if nuts can be purchased online for the bears. I suspect that question is because we took down the online link to do that. We did that because we found a local place that can get hazelnuts that are every bit as delicious to the bears for less than one third the price. We are asking the owner to set up an account that Lily Fans can send money to. In the meantime, checks to the WRI for nuts would be a big help in protecting the bears. The address is WRI, 1482 Trygg Road, Ely, MN 55731. Or make donations for nuts through paypal here: http://www.bearstudy.org/website/about-wri/make-a-donation.html.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center