Today, I was delighted to see Lily close-up and touch her for the first time this year. She was relaxed. Then something caught her interest and she was off stomp-walking, 
Beautiful Lilywatching, listening, and smelling the ground and branches as if something was afoot. She looked like she was following a trail as she disappeared. Sometimes, females track down males, and it is that time of year. But maybe she was wanting to run off a competing female. Hard to read their minds.
Lily follows a scentOne of Donna’s three yearlings had a rough couple days between getting injured and going through family break-up. Yesterday, about 4 PM, a bear tried to drag him down from a tree by the right hind foot. After some angry bear noises, the bear let go. The observer had a hard time seeing what was happening in the rain back in the woods, so we’re not sure if Donna was making the angry noises or not. About 9:15 PM, the little male was walking on three legs with his family. Today, the yearlings were on their own by 6:30 PM and he was walking lightly on the foot, so it must be on the mend. Heal soon, little guy. Donna still had four yearlings last fall. We don’t know what happened to one of them to be down to three.
Lily investigatesAt the Bear Center, Lucky is being persistent with Holly as captured by a Lily Fan at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibdY7F8VsuE
Today, I heard of the first sighting of a tiny fawn in tow behind a doe. I think of June 1 as the average birth date for deer around here.
I thank the local residents for keeping us informed.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center