Honey in denThe NABC staff gave more straw to the resident bears than what we have ever seen in a wild den. Well, maybe a couple open nest dens had as much, but when it comes to enclosed dens no bear comes close. And Ted, Lucky, and Honey are using the straw well. Honey is sleeping with her head nearly buried in it, breathing into the straw and re-breathing some of the same warm, moist air. In her picture, her head is in the foreground. That’s her ear sticking up on the left.
We can’t see what Lucky is doing, but we can guess from the little we can see. He has a wall of straw backed up by the wall of snow just outside his den.
Ted seems content with the arrangements he has made. He has not been out for days. Those are human tracks, not his, in the picture.
For the last year or so, the NABC has been open to rescuing a young female bear if the circumstances were right—meaning it would need to be a wild-born orphaned female that could not be released. We heard about just such a cub earlier this year but held out hope that she could be released into the wild. The state agency in charge has now decided that release would probably not be successful and would likely just get the cub killed. The agency contacted us a few days ago. We said we would do everything possible to provide a good life for this cub.
Ted's denWe know we are taking a risk because we don’t know the cub’s personality, her background, or how she’s been treated in captivity. We hope she’ll respond favorably and grow to trust us. The NABC staff is ready to do everything they can.
At this point, we’re making arrangements with the two state agencies (there and here) and the USDA. A couple volunteers are willing to drive her here (a 3-day trip). The total trip is over 2,000 miles, so any help with gas money for the volunteers would be appreciated. The volunteers believe they can have lodging with friends along the way. The little bear is in a 49 x 34 x 36-inch wooden box. We want to get her here as soon as possible. The agency that has the bear now is willing to do whatever it takes to cooperate with our DNR to get the bear on her way. We hope all the paperwork will be completed soon.
Lucky's denMore on the Den Cams coming up—including a Den Cam for this new little bear so we can follow as she adapts to her new life with new companions (bear and human) and her first hibernation here in the north.
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Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center