Lucy w/ a yearlingLucy was here today with sweet Desi and Arnie. Lucy weighed 157 now at 6 years of age. She has always been a bit small and didn’t have cubs until she was five. Great to see her—the same old Lucy. Calm as can be. Desi, too. Arnie is a bit skittish. Personalities vary. She and her yearlings were here for about an hour and a half but Lucy had things on her mind and didn’t eat much. She was roaming the area sniffing trees and the ground. I was wondering if she was just catching up on who had been here or if she is approaching estrus and sniffing for males. By the time I thought to snap pictures, she and the yearlings were on their way out making the only photo proof of their visit what you see. She left grunting to her yearlings as usual, but break-up can happen suddenly. I hope they come back enough to know when it happens.
People are wondering if Lily and Jack are okay. I believe so but am waiting, as always, to see. Both were spotted last fall after the main hunting was over. But that brings up a question about whether Lily will have cubs or not. Pregnant mothers are usually the earliest to den up. Everyone here is anxiously waiting to see.
Thank you for all you do,
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center