Does Lily have milk?
July 27, 2010 – 8:42 PM CDT
During Lynn’s visit today with Lily and Hope, he checked Lily’s milk supply. Zero. Her breasts were empty. He tried hard to express a drop. Nothing. Hope nursed, humming away. No sign of milk. No white around Hope’s mouth or on the nipples. Remember the milk we and a veterinarian saw on July 11, the day after they re-united? There was nothing like that today when Lynn watched Lily nurse Hope. Conventional knowledge suggests that Lily would resume lactation, especially given that she started up within 24 hours after re-uniting with Hope after nearly six weeks apart. We don’t understand it. We only report it. We plan to observe them for a longer period soon to further assess Lily’s milk production. Perhaps Hope had nursed Lily dry prior to Lynn’s visit today. We have more to learn.
Hope seems healthy and everything else in their relationship seemed fine, although Hope might have been a little more emphatic than other cubs we have seen in warning her mother away from food Hope wants. We first noticed this behavior in Hope after they were reunited the first time. Lily is quick to relinquish food to Hope.
One of the posters in the ‘Lily and Hope’ exhibit at the Bear Center mentions what Lily’s fans did to help supply formula and other food for Hope during the separation. Another exhibit entitled “Faces of bears in art and culture” features hundreds of cards fans have sent. The exhibits remind us how much the Lily and Hope fans have done and continue to do.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our research and education.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center