Black bears grow up experiencing thunder and lightning. That’s why many do not react to gunshots. But bears have different personalities. Last evening’s thunderstorm showed that. There was the usual thunder and lightning. 
Bear by Pond on 7-11-15Then, a close, bright, sharp crack brought out differences in the three bears present. V-Dot and Jack, both about 20 years old seemed not to notice. RC, about the same age (18) bolted, disappearing into the woods. RC has always been nervous despite her 18-year opportunity to become habituated to the sights and sounds of her world. 30-year-old Shadow is the same. Yet, June, a daughter of Shadow, was one of the calmest research bears we ever walked with. Lily, June’s daughter shared that trait, making her a super Den Cam bear. I remember the old days of walking with Terri, Mary, and Gerry and how they nervously climbed big white pines for refuge in thunderstorms, making me worry that these towering pines would be struck.
Wind also makes bears nervous. The forest sounds like danger rustling in all directions. Newly independent yearlings spend a lot of time up trees on windy days.
But on calm days, some bears may calmly sit and contemplate the view as our trail cam captured beside the beaver pond.
Gold FlecksOn another note, a neighbor checked a blasting area in a road construction area less than a mile from the Wildlife Research Institute and gave us rocks with flecks of gold(?). I sent this picture of a few flecks to a rock expert to see what he thinks. The Ely area is becoming known for gold deposits. Eureka! DNR strikes more gold near Lake Vermilion | Duluth News. By coincidence, Ely, Nevada, is also known for gold.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center