Lily showed up with 3 cubs, and the film team was in the right place at the right time to capture it for their documentary.
Lily
Mike Johnson is shepherding them. He snapped a couple pictures with his cell phone and sent them to me, saying that when he saw the real Lily he immediately recognized her, behavior and all. He and Lorie recognize the bears in this area better than anyone. He said the cubs are a little brownish, but it is the kind of brown we sometimes see in juvenile coats that become coal 
Lily and three cubsblack with the first molt.
It is 8:20 PM and they are still out, so things must be going well. I’m supposed to be keeping my eyes out for Daisy here.
Without radio-collars, we won’t be able to document a shift in Lily’s territory as Ellie now comes on the scene with 3 cubs of her own. The fact that Ellie has been coming regularly to this spot that used to be Lily’s suggests the beginning of a shift. The film team will have to keep their camera eyes open to record their interactions.
I’m remembering how Eli and Ellie ran circles around Lily in their den when a late blizzard kept them in longer than usual. Now Ellie is 4 and pretty grown up. Lily is 10 and with her fifth litter.
Thank you for all you do. Thank you for being part of so many memories of Lily’s life. I can’t wait to see her.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center