Jo's cub climbing a cedar
Today, we fell far behind on emails and were unable to follow media coverage as we dealt with Jason and DNR issues. Jason’s body was released to us today, and we just returned to the Research Center with it this evening. Tomorrow, we will examine the body. We are told we will receive the results of the DNR’s autopsy eventually. These things take time. We look forward to getting their report.
Jo approaching
While traveling to retrieve the body, we were able to follow Lily’s and Jo’s travels from a Google Earth map displayed on Sue’s cell phone. Lily centered her activities around the same white pine where we saw her with Faith yesterday. That should allow Faith extra time to rest up, if she needs it, after Wednesday’s big hike. We are impressed that little Faith made the big, fast hike like she did. We think she will do well. All indications are that all is well with Lily, Hope, and Faith.
snowfleas
We saw some variation in Lily’s GPS locations that we interpreted as foraging near the bed tree—perhaps on snowfleas like we saw near their bed site two days ago (pictures) or grubs. Snowfleas, also known as springtails, are not actually fleas and are found in masses under the leaf litter at this time of year. Bears gently rake away the top layer of leaf litter and lick up the snowfleas.
Jo’s GPS prematurely failed, so Sue swapped it for a new one this morning while Lynn dealt with Jason issues. Jo was still within a hundred yards of her den through most of today but finally left that area mid-afternoon, moving a quarter mile east. Then she bedded in a cedar swamp she had used last fall and has been there the last 7 hours.
sign of bears feeding on snowfleas
We are planning to have Jason mounted by one of Minnesota’s top taxidermists. We want to honor Jason’s life in a way that will continue educating people about bears. He represents the challenges some cubs face for survival. His cuteness at two and a half months and 4 pounds should help endear bears to people and may help save the lives of other bears.
Tomorrow, we’ll catch up on emails, learn what the media is saying, and see what more we can learn by examining Jason’s body.
You’re holding Ely comfortably in 6th place in the Readers Digest contest. Way to go.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
