June is Safely Back
September 6, 2010 – 8:36 PM CDT
As far as we know, all radio-collared bears are still safe. June is back in the safety of Bear Head Lake State Park and far from people. Lily and Hope again moved little through the day and then began moving in safe areas about an hour before hunting hours ended. It was the same for most of the others.
We are wondering about Ursula. She’s been in the same place all day and she didn’t start moving this evening as expected. We wish she would move enough to let us know the radio-collar and GPS is still on her. It’s hard not to worry. This would not be a good time for her to slip her collar. Last year she slipped her collar on her way to den. We’ve readied another collar—complete with ribbons—in case we need it for her or another bear. If we don’t see movement overnight we’ll walk in on the location tomorrow.
On the bright side, the BBC interviewed a hunter who is hunting in Lily’s territory. He supports the research and asks hunters who stay at his hunting cabin to spare the radio-collared bears. He hunts a respectful distance away from the Research Center. We got to know this congenial hunter a year ago when we introduced him to June and her cubs. Later, June and the cubs visited his bait and he recognized them. He held his fire, took pictures (see photo), and passed up his only chance at a bear last year. Instead, he showed his friends pictures of the bear he met.
The Education Outreach program is always a joy to report on with all the hard work going into it. Exciting things are coming together there!
Lily’s fans know how to have fun fundraising! We greatly appreciate your fundraising efforts and donations to the WRI (bearstudy.org) during this hunting season.
Also, a thank you to the organizers and participants of the Lilypad Picnic for the $1,000 proceeds from the silent auction that Hank and Linda Ziobro delivered to the Bear Center today.
Thank you for all you do, the encouragement you give, the angst you share, and the many ways you find to show your heartfelt support, including the treats we look forward to stopping in at the Bear Center to get before they are gone.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center