Braveheart makes a move
October 14, 2010 – 7:47 PM CDT
Lily and Hope are still in the same area as yesterday about 1.9 miles southwest of the den we are waiting and hoping they will use. They don’t seem to realize how much we want them to make the big move, end the suspense, and den where there is electricity and telephone. Utilities within reach would make possible the same streaming video we had last winter. How can they stay so far away? It’s like our thousands of wishes have no effect on them—at least not yet.
Braveheart was more exciting. As her GPS batteries approached their limit, she made a big move to a more accessible area starting about 11:20 AM. Sue saw what was happening, raced out to intercept her, changed her batteries, and snapped a picture. During the afternoon, Braveheart meandered more than 2 miles. It’s late enough in the season that this could be the move we have been waiting for. About 6 PM, she stopped to rest only 0.4 mile from the dug den she has been visiting periodically. We’ll see what she does overnight or tomorrow.
In the race to vote $20,000 to Ely’s schools, you added 40 votes to keep us in a strong lead with 2,672 votes. Second place added 79 votes for a total of 855 votes. Although they gained slightly, they’ll have to do better than that to catch Lily’s fans by November 12. They have no idea what our group can do. To vote, go to http://www.care2.com/schoolcontest/2704/054/.
At the Bear Center, we were lucky enough to stop in before the pastries you anonymously sent were gone. You know how to put a smile on people’s faces.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center