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Bear News from Sharon and a Wonderful Day - UPDATE July 26, 2020

Bear News – July 25, 2020

TedTedTed is an awesome bear! The strands of gray hairs across his forehead are so revealing of his age. Ted at 23.7 years of age is a regal example of how an aging bear looks. I think he knows he's handsome and well loved.

I took some photos inside Ted's enclosure; it's no wonder Holly hangs around his enclosure because it is full of dogwood and she loves them. Of course she can’t get to the dogwood in Ted’s enclosure, so she has to forage for them in the big enclosure. There are many bushes throughout the 2.5 acres, but the best are found in Ted's enclosure! The white berries aren't tasty to humans, but the bears enjoy them.TashaTasha

The raspberries are also ripe, and it looks like Ted nibbles at them. He much prefers that the interns pick them for him and place them in his bowl. Unfortunately, the serviceberry/ juneberries behind the falls didn't ripen this year. The beaked hazelnut seem to be large and plentiful at this writing.

HollyHollyThe rain came down hard this past Tuesday. The bears chose to stay in, and Holly was relaxed as interns visited her with our Behind the Scenes guests. Holly has shed most of her winter coat and as evidence I included a picture of thistle that has clumps of her fur stuck to the newly developing burrs.

Lucky bear looked back before finishing his walk up the rock den as seen in the photo. He wanted the spread that had been put out earlier. Lucky is very good at finding the foods hidden around the pond. He always finds treat in the new feeder, and even though he's almost 500 pounds, he still climbs for the treats in the trolley feeder.

.LuckyLuckyThis week Tasha's mohawk has gotten thinner and as it runs the course of her spine, she also has the small tuffs between her ears. She has been rubbing on the fence and on the aspens in her enclosure to help the shedding process along

If you've been watching, you'll see she has a different rocking tub. I switched her broken tub for a donated tub to give her more room to recline; it is also sturdier. She just enjoys sitting in it and watching her guests arrive.

Coming soon, a wish list of things you may be able to help us with, stay tuned.

Thank you for all you do,
Sharon Herrell, Sr. Bear Keeper


For the Black Bear Field Course, a participant who is here for her 6th course said it was the best she had ever seen. A couple that are here for their fourth time seconded that. News of Carolyn and her cubs got us started. For a bonus, we saw 3 mothers with cubs at that stop. Then it was time to eat. Next, we got a call that 33-year-old Shadow was seen. We raced over and caught a nice view of her to record the whitening face of the second oldest black bear on record—wild or captive. 21-year-old RC and her 4 cubs (3 females and a male) were also there. RC is the oldest reproducing mother in the study, and Shadow, who gave birth to her last cub five years ago now defers to RC. Then Daisy who was not due for cubs this year came by and was her usual good self. Next, it was her mother Bow with her three cubs of unknown sex (still). Two of them posed by a tree where she had left them. When we thought we had seen it all, 13-year-old Lily came by for the nicest reunion with her I’ve had in years—until RC told her she should go. The picture of Lily does not do her justice. As an encore, 15-year-old Ursula stopped by for the best reunion I’ve had with HER in years.

LilyLily Bows cubsBows cubs ShadowShadow


The day couldn’t have been better—the weather, the people, the food, and the bears. Looking forward to tomorrow.

Thank you for all you do.Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center

 

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