Faith and Lily - March 7, 2012With the cubs eyes opening, temperatures up close to 30F, and seeing how little snow is on the ground—maybe a foot—we can’t help but think about spring. When will the families emerge? Our guess would be about April 7—just a month away. So much to do in the meantime.
Jewel and cub with OPEN eyes! - March 7, 2012Emerging families means a shift from watching Den Cams to actually being there recording data and video. It means seeing the cubs more clearly, learning the minor differences in their faces to tell Fern from Herbie at a glance. It means learning their personalities—learning which one is more confident, which one is first down from a tree, which one is more playful, which one is Jewel’s favorite to play with, which one owns the best nipples, which one is tied more to Jewel, which one is more independent, which one is biggest, and which is most dominant. All things that may help define how cub personalities relate to their choices and successes as adults.
Jewel picking up cub by its fur - March 7, 2012Is it the male that squawks more? Is that a sign of his struggling to do what Fern finds easy? Will he disperse immediately after family break-up as subordinate, independent George did, or will he remain and begin mating as a 2-year-old like dominant Pete did? There are many questions. You all will think of more and hopefully will be willing to share your thoughts.
A highlight video of yesterday’s activities in Jewel’s den is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL5Bxm32tWk .
Another in the June Walk 2005 series is posted below.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
Date: August 16, 2005
I located June and her cubs north of the RR grade at the edge of a tamarack swamp at 8:26 AM. I believe I disturbed them from a rest. There was a well used bed nearby with at least 6 June-sized scats around it and numerous cub scats. I immediately noticed an odd sweet smell to the entire area and oats were evident in the scats. I strongly suspect June had been visiting a hunter’s bait site.
This walk with June felt more like a ‘sit’ than a ‘walk’. I was with her for nearly 11 hours during which time she fed briefly on wild calla, peavine, and clover blossoms and spent one 28 minute period foraging on round-leaf dogwood. Most of her time was spent resting and playing with her cubs.
Of particular interest:
George and Pete play as June rests - August 16, 2005
June and cubs at feeder - August 16, 2005June settled in a cedar swamp to nurse her cubs at 3:35 PM. As soon as they were done nursing the cubs disappeared while June rested and slept. The cubs reappeared at 4:37 PM to nurse again – and disappeared again at 4:48 PM. June fell back asleep until 6:06 PM. After spending a couple minutes listening intently she began searching for her cubs. She was grunting and tongue-clicking as she followed their scent trail. She seemed very anxious and occasionally would stop and listen intently. The cubs’ trail meandered along Trygg Road crossing back and forth several times. June followed the trail through a round-leaf dogwood patch where it appeared the cubs had fed. As she approached a side road, she broke into a run and disappeared into the woods towards a feeding station. I called the homeowners but got no answer so called a neighbor was told the cubs had been there since about 5:00 PM. I headed for the feeding station where Pete and George were and waited for June to catch up. At 6:53 PM, I could see June in the driveway. She got partway down the driveway with her nose to the ground and then turned back towards the road. I could see her and I could see her cubs – but she could not see her cubs from where she was. I followed her back out to the road to video her frantic search. She finally bolted off the road towards the cubs which sent them scurrying up the nearest tree. The cubs quickly came down and the family settled in to eat at the feeder. June seemed to immediately relax and let go of her franticness.