Lorie - August 29, 2015The bear killed last night across the road from the WRI was 11-year-old Keefer, daughter of RC, granddaughter of Shadow. She produced at least 9 cubs (5 males, 4 females) in 3 litters (2007, 2010, and 2012). We didn’t see her often and don’t know if she produced cubs in 2014. She had no cubs this year but, from her weight, was due for a litter in 2016.
A big disappointment was learning that the yearling killed at that same bait on September 1 was Lorie, one of the sweetest bears we have met. She had great potential as a research bear. She was the daughter of Samantha, granddaughter of Braveheart, great granddaughter of Blackheart, and great great granddaughter of 28-year-old Shadow.
On the up side, we are relieved that nearly all of the bears that we know best have survived. That fact is interesting in itself, considering that some would think that the most trusting bears would be the first ones to take advantage of hunters’ baits. The bears are becoming increasingly nocturnal.
Keefer - August 5, 2012A Lily Fan heard that 27 bears were taken in the area. I heard that number, too, but it’s from a much bigger area than the Eagles Nest Community. The number tossed around each year regarding bears taken locally is the number registered in the towns around the area—Ely, Tower, Winton, Soudan, Babbitt, Embarrass, and maybe Cook. 27 is not that many, due again to the low number of licenses issued this year.
Stating a position, I believe hunting hours should be only from sunrise to sunset, not starting a half hour before sunrise and ending a half hour after sunset. In that extra half hour at the beginning and end of each day it is generally too dark for accurate shooting, which undoubtedly increases wounding loss. Beyond that, hunters are understandably hesitant to track wounded bears in the dark, leaving them to suffer through the night if they are found at all. When we were trying to get protection for radio-collared bears, the big objection by Commissioner Landwehr was that a lot of the shooting is in light too low for a hunter to spot a radio-collar even if it is festooned with bright ribbons and strips of reflective plastic. I say if it is too dark to clearly see the target, the hunter shouldn’t be shooting from standpoints of safety and humanity.
One of our trail-walkers saw a pack of 6 wolves but got a picture of only one of them. We haven’t seen or heard any wolves for many months.
A wolf seen today by a trail-walkerRight now, after hunting hours have ended for the day, the trail-walkers are out logging hours and experiences. How did these trail-walkers come together this year? Trail-walkers from last year stayed in contact with each other through the year and asked to come back and pay all expenses for the experience. They asked to be able to buy groceries, cook, clean, put out food for bears, scoop poop, wash windows, cut brush, record bear weights, identify bears, walk trails, and do anything they can possibly do to help. The number exactly fit the number of beds here without finding extra lodging in the neighborhood. I asked who was coming. All had experience and could identify the bears. All I had to do was say yes. Great help.
Thank you again for the bear food donations you are sending.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.