Jo re-collared!
April 18, 2010 – 8:26 PM CDT
Green-up continues with a blush of green across the treetops. More and more succulent leaves are poking out of the forest floor. Today we saw the first hepatica flowers. The early spring we are experiencing is unprecedented. Only time will tell how it will affect bear behavior and the food supply.
The bears are responding in different ways. June and her yearlings are cruising the edges of wetlands far from people. Lily and Hope are staying put in very dense vegetation on a small peninsula out of the flow of bear and human activity. Hope nurses frequently. Their location reminds us of grizzly mothers in Alaska that pick the most out of the way places to avoid other bears.
Hope is getting cuter every day—and less vocal. She vocalized a little when Lily explored a different part of their peninsula, but mainly she was quiet except for making her motor-like hum while nursing.
We searched far and wide for Juliet, walking in to many big trees that were likely places for a mother to rest with her cubs. No luck. Homeowners in her territory have been alerted and will call us if they see her. Losing the ability to observe Juliet’s parenting is disappointing.
Then Jo appeared. She’s the 2-year-old sweetheart who removed her radio-collar in her culvert den this past winter. A couple volunteers crawled in and chipped it out of the ice under the middle of the road. Today, we put the collar back on her—complete with a GPS unit this time. We’re now monitoring her movements on our computer for the first time. We're delighted to have her re-collared!
Don-Minn-Jay went all out today to raise funds for the NABC with his 'undies' routines (fully clothed, of course) in front of the webcam on Sheridan Street in Ely. He kept Lily’s Facebook fans well entertained! Thank you to all who participated.
Sorry for the long delay of the ‘Bearwalker’ DVD’s. We’re told the master will be done on Tuesday and the DVD’s will be made by the end of the week. They should arrive here early the next week and will be sent out pronto!
Lynn is still reading birthday cards and marveling at the words and cards.
Thank you again for all your support.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, North American Bear Center