Lily Jim and Sue celebrated Mother’s Day by visiting two mothers. Yesterday, Sue noticed the leather breakaway piece of Lily’s collar was doing just what it’s supposed to do—breaking away. So top priority today became tracking Lily down to repair the collar. Connecting with Lily was a challenge, but perseverance paid off and the deed was accomplished.
JewelNext they took advantage of last night’s ice-out to visit Jewel and give her a GPS unit. Jewel made it easy. She spied them from afar in an area with clear understory and came quickly to them once she understood the situation. Jewel truly was a jewel today. She hasn’t always been an easy bear to work with, but she surprised us today by being very cooperative.
Lake One island - May 10Our previous visit to Jewel was on February 16 when Jim and Lorie ventured only close enough to hear cubs and know there was at least two. The visit before that was last November 2 when we located her den and removed her GPS. Today, Jim and Sue glimpsed the cubs just long enough to count three. Jewel’s GPS will help us piece together the story of which bear(s) will take over June’s vacant territory.
Lake One island - May 11The island pictures taken at 10:43 AM yesterday and 7:21 AM today show the ice retreating on Eagles Nest Lake One with a high each day of 68F and a low last night in the low 40’s.
Wood frogYesterday, Lynn spent the afternoon with Donna the Picture-Spotter, celebrating Mother’s Day a day early. Whenever Donna is along, good pictures happen. Yesterday, she spotted the red winter leaves of Leather Leaf, a low shrub of wet areas, and they did a U-turn. 
Wood frog eggsGetting out, they heard a deafening chorus of spring peepers, chorus frogs, and wood frogs. It’s late for wood frogs to be mating. They are the first to mate around here, usually in April. Donna is interested in all nature. They were headed for Gooseberry Falls on Lake Superior’s North Shore, but frogs are good, too. Together, they stood mesmerized, quietly pointing out frog faces in the vegetation of the vernal pool. 
Honey exploresPart of the fascination was seeing the waking up of a vernal pond. On a day that began with temperatures near freezing, the 68-degree midday temperature brought out water striders, whirligig beetles, and a water beetle we didn’t know. We know you had to be there, but it was a memorable moment. Lynn and Donna eventually made it to Gooseberry Falls, which was roaring, and on the way home saw a moose at a traditional spot where they seek salt in spring. A good day.
Honey bunsAt the Bear Center today, Honey spent a good half hour exploring the new pen and Chalet Lily Fans bought and helped build for her. Inside the Bear Center, volunteers bought and installed a much-needed bigger sink. Many thanks!
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos were taken today unless otherwise noted.