A couple updates ago I made an error in saying Jewel had denned with her yearlings in the rock den that had been used so much. That winter, she denned near the rock den but not in it.
Jewel in den 10/22/2015
After that update, which was about how much June and Jewel had used the rock den, a Lily Fan posted a dramatic video of June, Jewel, and Jordan briefly emerging from it on October 16, 2009, after any early 1½-inch snowfall. They walked by the camera very closely, ignoring it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGRRe3-UJDY. The picture shows Jewel grown up and in that den six years later on October 22, 2015 when she was pregnant with her third litter: Zac, Caleb, and Brennan.
On another note, a bear enthusiast sent a great video of two bears interacting quietly but vigorously, wondering if it was play or, since it was during mating season, possibly fighting. People had suggested to her that it could be either. I’ll leave it to Lily Fans to judge. https://www.facebook.com/realworldnh/videos/491809977856775/
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center