A Lily Fan captured a 2:25 video of Tasha that made me feel good to see her exploring the forest, looking in a window and going about her business like I’ve seen wild bears do so often. 
Stratton 8-13-17The changing seasons give the forest new looks with new foods to try. The enclosure is the world model we wanted it to be for keeping captive bears. 
Trumpeter swanNot the expanse of nature but a far cry from the cement and chain link fence quarters that made me want to do so much better for bears that can’t be released, and we’re talking about doubling the size of it and getting a cub when we can. The whole Bear Center is turning out better than I’d dreamed. The mod controlling the camera did a great job following Tasha. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYOp39oAcIA
Out in the woods, the dangers that lurk may have taken a toll. Annie was last seen with all five cubs on October 1. Yesterday and today, she was seen with only three. Maybe a couple are separated is all. 
Stratton 8-13-17That’s possible at this time of year. In some families, the big cubs get a little independent. We’ll see what happens next, or next spring. A couple years ago we thought Braveheart’s cub Stratton had been left behind by his family and that they’d never get back together. Stratton was alone for days in the fall, and then he disappeared. In the spring, he showed up with the rest of the family. 
Blue jayHe was a little on the independent side, but he evidently found his family and all was well. This year, he was a good, robust 2-year-old, doing fine. I hope it will be the same for Annie’s two lost cubs.
When I drove past Robinson Lake today, the Trumpeter swans were near the road, ignoring the traffic. I stopped. That caught their attention. They seemed oblivious until something was different. What a nice addition to the wildlife these beautiful big birds are! Fall colors were eye-catching as I drove. And out the window at the WRI, blue jays looked good against the yellow.
At the Bear Center, the team overcame last year’s difficulties with the sound that plagued last year’s Live Broadcasts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZN4Mnr4Qcw&cm_mc_uid=88736703334814822737093&cm_mc_sid_50200000=1507156846 Great this year! I’m looking forward to next week’s broadcast again on Wednesday at 1 PM bear time.
Red Maple Leaves
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center