At the Bear Center, things are moving forward construction-wise and exhibit-wise on several fronts with more to come with a little luck. 
Ted on May 8, 2017The crews made enough progress that the 4 bears are out again as a Lily Fan captured in this 3:15 minute video of Ted enjoying a swim in clean, clear water https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJp5b-eP1s4.
Here at the Wildlife Research Institute, we are working on exhibits, especially the loon exhibit and the touch-and-see fur exhibit which has become a hit even before it is complete.
As birds and bears return in this good weather, we’re keeping our eyes open for special bears (Quill for one) and for mothers with cubs. A mother with 2 new cubs was seen just 3 miles away two days ago. She could have been a clan or non-clan bear in that area. My first thought was Braveheart, but the person did not notice any white on the chest.
Ted swimmingA Lily Fan sent a video that is interesting in several ways. It is a black bear approaching a dog in its yard. The dog backs away. The bear slowly and hesitantly approaches. As the bear gets closer to the dog, the bear shows bluster. It lunges forward and slaps the ground. Whenever I see a bear attempt to look aggressive and ferocious, that is an immediate tip-off that the bear is all talk. The bear is uneasy, worried, and uncertain, but not enough to run away and not scared enough to feel it has to attack. When I see bluster, I feel safe. The bear is testing the situation and wishing for space. The bear comes closer than ever and slaps the ground and then turns tail and starts walking away. The dog saw that and instantly was down off the porch and on the bear’s tail—I believe making contact. The bear turns. The dog retreats. The bear is now scared enough that it takes the opportunity of the dog backing away and giving the bear space, that the bear now turns tail and RUNS, scrambling over a fence to safety. I can see how the bear would have to feel a little desperate to go up and over the fence. The bear would be vulnerable while climbing up, but the dog gave the bear space, and the bear took that opportunity to risk the vulnerability of the climb. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/05/11/video-california-dog-bravely-confronts-black-bear.html
The strong propensity for dogs to give chase when an animal retreats from them, as this dog did, is probably how the idea started that a person should never run from a bear. But bears are different, and I’ve never heard of an example of running away from a bear triggering an attack. What I do hear repeatedly, as I’ve said before, is people telling me “I ran one way and the bear ran the other.”
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center