Bald EagleIn this 1½-minute clip of June Bear from April 28, 2009, June has climbed a leaning birch tree, presumably to check for catkins to eat. As she descends, she walks forward until the angle becomes steep enough that she starts to slip. Bears cannot reverse their hip joints and turn their legs backward like a squirrel can. So June had to turn around so her claws will keep her from slipping. http://youtu.be/Nh2Td0v3uqw. I thought she looked magnificent up there, calmly but skillfully walking the high-wire branch. Then, on the ground, she walked past Sue without a glance.
Bald Eagle flyingThat was in the early days of bears wearing GPS units that opened the door to the best movement data we collected. Not only could we watch bears, but we could detail their travels when we weren’t with them. David Wright of the BBC first showed us the new real-time GPS units in 2008, and Jim Stroner of Digi International worked with his team and the Engineering Department at Iowa State University to improve the technology over the years. 
Red SquirrelWe feel fortunate to have amassed over a quarter million data points on June and a few other bears before the DNR decided to pull our permit in mid-summer 2013. Analysis of that much data is time-consuming but progressing.
Juvenile Bald EagleNature Note: A friend called and said a flock of eagles were migrating through and were resting in trees by a pond. I hadn’t been out at all on this beautiful mild day. I grabbed the camera. He was right--6 adults and 2 juveniles—sitting, cruising by, or chasing each other in what might be mating activity.
A Representative remarked about how many people care about bears! You are making yourself heard on this bill. Thank you.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.