Tasha had some watermelon and other private treats, including a shower, on this day that got up to 77.7F°. Ted spent time in his tub. 
Lucky's nose dirty from diggingLucky was covered with dirt after digging in the rock den today, making us wonder if he has plans for this den. He spent a winter snuggled against Honey in that den some years back. Will he do the same with Holly? I’m imagining a Den Cam.
Lucky and Holly Beyond the rock den, pileated woodpeckers are digging for larvae in good view from the viewing balcony as in this 3 minute 40 second video https://youtu.be/hF3yWFf0MIk and another at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoWuUcFL1TQ
Staff and volunteers are adding the latest reproduction information to the page on Shadow’s Clan. So far, we know that RC has a male and 2 females, Jewel has 2 males and a female, Samantha has 2 males and 2 females, and Fern has 3 males. Summer, Sophie, and Vanna each has two cubs we’re still trying to see well enough to determine gender.
Tasha getting a shower Summer is down to 2 cubs after losing one to an unknown cause a couple weeks ago. We’re still waiting for Colleen to show up.
Ted in a tubOut the window, the tame gull will peck on the window if I don’t come quickly enough with bologna. The semi-tame gull will sit by the window without pecking. Three others, including the lame gull, sit at the feeding spot but fly when I come out. They circle back repeatedly for bologna. The lame gull took too long with his turn but was able to fight off a challenge from a gull that tried to hurry him off.
This morning an adolescent male bear we call One-Dot tasted a piece of bologna but decided to leave it for the gulls. He preferred the food Lily Fans helped buy.
I came across a poem Dr. Steve Stringham wrote back in 1987. The last four verses rang a bell with me.
Is it this, I wonder,
this rapport beyond majesty and ferocity
intuition and intelligence,
which has bound me decade after decade
to the Great Bear and his kin?
For although I am a scientist,
I am also a seeker of stranger truths,
Who for year after year
has been thrilled and terrified,
fascinated and stupefied,
by this magnificent being.
Who while learning bear’s worldly ways,
has met “minds within the skins of other kinds,”
and finally glimpsed Spirit Bear.
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| Tasha with watermelon | and with peanut butter log |
Steve’s words made me think of break-through moments with bears along the way and how it has been to work with Gerry, June, Lily, and others. It made me think of being in the presence of gentle Jack and powerful Victor—and watching Victor grow from a lean, undersized 4-6-year-old in 2005 to what he is today. Last evening, he argued a bit with Drew but then just walked away without showing his power. The biggest males are often the most gentle.
Steve was the leader of the panel I was part of at the International Bear Conference in Anchorage last month. He has also formed the Bear Viewing Association and written books about bears. You can see more of his writings and other work at www.bear-viewing-in-alaska.info.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center