Bears were in action today at the Bear Center. I’m told that Lucky, Holly, and Tasha were all up the same ash tree at once. 
Lucky in AshThe photo shows Lucky.
TedTed enjoyed the pond and spent some quiet time on his back, too.
In the wild, 3-year-old Vonnie and her first cub put in an appearance for the record. Vonnie is from Star’s second litter. Star is a daughter of Shannon, who is the daughter of Donna, the daughter of Blackheart, the daughter of Shadow. This is the first cub in Shadow’s 7th generation, which amazes me. People in Shadow’s human community have been keeping records, photos, videos, etc., to make this possible. I don’t know of another clan record like it. If anyone knows of one, I’d like to know. People who feed bears are often quiet about it, yet very dedicated, so others may have been keeping similar records.
 Star and Griz |
 Vonnie's cub |
 Vonnie and cub |
From that neighborhood site, I got this question today: “Lynn, this was very strange today, Star (on left) came to the feeder with her 3 yearlings, then Griz showed up and came to Star, the yearlings went up the tree, Star and Griz ate together and were very playful with each other but showed no signs of mating, in the picture they are on the picnic table, Star made no attempt to try to send him off, they were very playful with each other in the yard. Then they parted, he left down the driveway and she came to the tree and called her yearlings down and they came to the feeder, ate together and left in the opposite direction of Griz. We have never seen this before, is this unusual?”
Ted on back
I answered: Looks like family breakup is imminent. It happens in many ways. I believe you are documenting one of the versions. It will be interesting to see/hear what you discover in the next few days.
Also, I got this 1:10-minute video from a resident who spotted this family near a road. https://youtu.be/eMU14VMmgjI. I ran it by our best bear detectives—Mike and Lorie who are part of the Black Bear Field Courses (one spot is open yet in the July 8-11 course if anyone can still make plans for that one). It’s Jewel, who I’ve worried about all winter. She has three cubs. Also, we’re now thinking the bear that was shot on May 13 might be Sophie, not Samantha. We’re waiting to see who shows up so we can check the small identifying characteristics close-up and for sure. We would hate to lose 6-year-old Sophie, the gentle daughter of Juliet.
Tree down at the NABCFern, the 6-year-old daughter of Jewel completed her 4-dose schedule of mange medicine given by the neighborhood. Fern skipped this year as far as cubs go.
A big wind/rain/hail storm hit yesterday and last night, causing damage and electrical outages in the region as well as a tree that fell across the two fences at the Bear Center. Staff immediately checked the bears (all okay), cut up the tree, and began straightening the fence and restoring the electrical wire at the top of it.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center