Both of Jewel's cubs come up for air - Feb 1, 2012Is it the warm weather that made the cubs come out and play? Do cubs like to come out for a breath of fresh air when it’s not too cold? Today, at 30 F and still with short fur, they were crawling up Jewel's fur to her back without screaming about the cold, being lost, etc.
Cub crawls on Jewel as she sleeps - Feb 1, 2012In theory, one reason they are born in such a premature state after just 2 months of gestation (after implantation in November) is to breathe on their own rather than relying on the mother’s blood oxygen levels in utero. With a slowed metabolism in winter, a mother’s blood oxygen levels may be compromised. Out in the big world of the den, cubs can breathe on their own. Maybe sometimes they want the fresh air of the den rather than the air underneath mom. She and they are breathing and re-breathing the same air as she tucks her head under her body and breathes on the cubs. All speculation to be resolved, in part, if the pattern of activity remains consistent with temperature. The Den-Watch Team is recording it all.
Video footage of Jewel and cubs from yesterday is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0h0TyiwWV8.
Jewel licking - Feb 1, 2012We appreciated seeing a post by a Lily fan saying, “I can tell you that the data and videos of the bears have made learning and science come alive for my students—ones that spend way too much time in front of computers.” Her statement was in tune with a statement in Science Magazine by John E. Burris, president of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, talking about ways to improve science and math education through inquiry-based learning and exciting, timely curricula. I don’t know if these two education leaders realize it, but they are right in tune with our own Helen Schwarz, leader of the Education Outreach Program described under Education at http://www.bear.org/website/introduction-from-dr-lynn-rogers.html.
So many great people have stepped forward from the group of Lily’s fans. There will soon be opportunities for more of that when the Volunteer Team rolls out the long awaited Volunteer Application form.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center