Lily has not given a GPS location today. This could be because (in order of likelihood) she stayed deep in the rock den, her collar is twisted, or the batteries expired early. The batteries are on day 10, which is marginally when they could expire. We want to check on her soon.
Braveheart’s batteries are on day 13 and are likely expired. Some batteries have run longer, making it possible that she is in a den and not leaving it to rake anymore. We hope to check on her soon as well.
bear tracks -- claws digging in because the mud is slipperyJo and Victoria moved another mile back toward where they were 6 days ago. Along the way, Jo stopped sending GPS locations when she reached a powerline. Power poles are almost irresistible for marking. We figured she stopped to rub her crown, neck, shoulders and back on a power pole and ended up with the collar upside down and the GPS unit on the bottom. We knew it wasn’t the batteries because she is only on day 6. The closest we could get to her by road was 0.6 miles. We walked in from there, saying “It’s me, bear” for the last quarter mile. Finally, there they were on a rock outcrop watching. Jo continues to be a sweetheart. She was calm and trusting—even when she felt her head and neck being twisted as we rotated the collar. With the GPS back on top, she began broadcasting GPS signals again. Suddenly, she went rigidly on alert to a gunshot a quarter mile away. Victoria was at her side also on alert. Then they relaxed and paid no attention to a second shot. With our mission accomplished, we said a quick “Thank you, bear” and left.
The GPS showed that they remained at that spot almost an hour and then resumed their walk. We are so spoiled with this new GPS technology that lets us know where the bears are when they are there. Most GPS collars accumulate the data to be revealed when the collar is retrieved or downloaded at the end of the year. Getting the data immediately in real time is what lets us share what the bears did each day. We’re anxiously watching the computer screen for the day they decide on a suitable den and settle in. With other mothers and cubs in dens, Jo is providing with an opportunity to document pre-denning behavior.
2011 holiday card -- coming soon!We wanted to fly today to listen for Colleen’s telemetry signals over a broad area, but the airplane won’t be available until Sunday noon. Her signal that had been in place for at least a month (Sept 12 to Oct 12) disappeared in the last 4 days of bear hunting season. It’s unlikely a hunter shot her festooned with ribbons and accompanied by cubs, but it’s also unlikely that she moved more than a few miles when she was in the heart of her territory at a time when other bears were entering dens. But maybe she did the highly unusual. We’re going to make a major search and hope we can rejoice and give the word for the $5,000 drawing. If we don’t find her, there will be no choice but to wait for her and the cubs to be spotted in spring, or for the orphaned cubs to be spotted alone. Colleen is the firstborn daughter of Donna and a granddaughter of Shadow. Colleen’s cubs, Rocky and Rory, are the fourth generation within the clan.
inside of holiday cardWe saw a nice remembrance of the life of Hope at http://hopetheblackbear.blogspot.com/ . It includes many videos, many pictures, and good words, including poems. Thank you again to all who have expressed the big importance of little Hope in so many ways. As the small print says on the back of the Christmas card soon to be released, “The cover photo shows Lily, Faith, and Hope together on August 22, 2011. When a Den Cam enabled researchers and the world to hear Hope’s first cries on January 22, 2010, no one realized how this family would touch their lives. Finally, people could see for themselves the challenges of black bear life. What people saw and heard turned their fear of bears into fascination, understanding, and even love. In Jason’s 81 days and Hope’s 602 days of life, they spread a message far greater than their small statures. They live on in our memories and the knowledge they have given.”
Another video taken during our walk with Jo the 25th will be uploaded later tonight. This one shows Jo marking numerous utility poles and both Jo and Victoria swimming in a beaver pond. Check for the video at http://www.youtube.com/user/bearstudy#g/u.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center