Oliana and Aster nose to nose - July 18, 2012Today, GPS locations showed the bears to be foraging mostly in old clear-cuts—where ant colonies and raspberries (Rubus sp.) are the main fare. After decades of observation, we still don’t know exactly what drives their decisions as to where to forage beyond getting a variety of foods. We’ve seen bears forage for hours on blueberries and then leave a blueberry patch that is far from depleted and go into a marsh to eat wild calla leaves (Calla palustris). We’ve seen bears eat mainly juneberries for half a day and then switch to ant pupae. Along the way, they grab mouthfuls of wild lettuce (Lactuca sp.), cow-wheat (Melampyum lineare), jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), peavine (Lathyrus sp.), clover (Trifolium sp.), grass, or other tidbits. They are very selective—not the opportunistic omnivores that are reputed to eat anything and everything.
Oliana in red pine - July 18, 2012Today, our third Black Bear Field Course ended, leaving us to reflect on the vibrant fun that accompanied our research these past few days. The group included a comedian/hypnotist, educators who are already making a difference for bears with their students, a Chinese/American linguist, an attorney, a social worker, and 2 accountants—all Lily Fans united by their love of bears and desire to learn more.
Oliana and Aster - July 18, 2012Just after dawn at the Bear Center, the six ducklings motored back and forth across the pond like little speedboats while mom sat on a log. In early afternoon, the family left the pond, found a way out of the enclosure and across Highway 169, and headed toward big Shagawa Lake 365 yards away.
This evening we radio-located Oliana to give her the antibiotics just after the sun set. She was calmly sitting in a red pine watching our approach. She huffed as she climbed down but was then her usual relaxed self as she approached. When the condensed milk/antibiotic combination was gone, we scattered a few nuts on the ground hoping to get a good look at her wound as she foraged for them. She had just begun to eat them when she went on alert and bolted for the red pine and climbed up. Another collared bear was approaching. No GPS unit. Had to be another yearling. Aster.
Big nose Oliana - July 18, 2012
Big nose Aster - July 18, 2012
Aster calmly approached and circled around to the scattered nuts and finished them off while Oliana huffed in the tree. Just as the last nut disappeared, Oliana began coming down. Aster approached the tree. We wondered what would happen. Would we see a display of dominance from one of these females? No. They touched noses in a friendly but cautious way. Aster was relaxed enough to sit and have a good scratch. Oliana seemed a bit more watchful and cautious.
The light was low but even poor pictures of them together are better than none. We seldom ever have a bear approach while we are with a bear in the woods. Both bears seemed fascinated by their reflection in the camera lens—resulting in some interesting pictures!
Lily Fans are already gathering for the Lilypad Picnic this weekend. Ted Parvu is setting up the Live Cam for the bonfire broadcast Saturday night 7-9 PM Central Time. Excitement is growing as we see familiar Lily Fans and meet new ones. Lily Fans are preparing to set up tables to register new volunteers, new speakers for the growing Speaker Bureau, and more.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center