Red SquirrelLily Fans captured video of Honey and Ted getting on the scale for their annual spring weights:
Honey on the scale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUfI6Uci9Fg
Ted on the scale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhKUoatiyAk
The bears are starting this year with April 1st weights of 610 (Ted), 426 (Honey), 392.5 (Lucky) and an April 3rd weight of 116 for Holly.
In more detail,
2014/2015 NABC Bear Hibernation Stats
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Ted Denned: November 14, 2014 - In Honey’s Haven
Last Weight: 702.5 lbs. on October 7, 2014
Out of Hibernation: March 11, 2015
Weighed April 1, 2015: 610 lbs.
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Honey Denned: November 16, 2014 – In Window Den
Last Weight: 513 lbs. on November 8, 2014
Out of Hibernation: March 8, 2015 walked to rock den
Weighed April 1, 2015: 426 lbs.
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Lucky Denned: November 5, 2014 – In large Bunker Den
Last Weight: 461 lbs. on October 9, 2014
Out of Hibernation: March 23, 2015
Weighed April 1, 2015: 392.5 lbs.
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Holly Denned: November 7, 2014 – Dug a Natural Den
Last Weight: 153 lbs. on October 9, 2014
Out of Hibernation: March 31, 2015
Weighed April 3, 2015: 116 lbs.
Common RedpollComparing these weights to past years is difficult because the last fall weights for Ted, Lucky, and Holly were about a month before they denned, and they emerged earlier this year due to the early spring.
Ted emerged heavier than he has for years. We are concerned the extra weight will be hard on his joints and limit his mobility.
On another note, a Lily Fan was good to catch an error in last night’s update. The USS Kawishiwi was not a battleship, which are named after states, but was an oiler, which are named after rivers. This Lily Fan knows because he was the Chief Petty Officer on a destroyer that was refueled by the USS Kawishiwi several times.
We recall the fun ways Lily Fans have found to raise money with spontaneous off-the-wall contests on Facebook and with projects like the Bear Necessity Cookbook, iGive, and the Honey Puzzle Project, among others. The Team is looking for creative, enthusiastic, committed Lily Fans to collaborate with them as part of the volunteer FUNdraiser team. They have fun and make fun for the rest of us while helping the NABC and bears. The position description is at Volunteer Central at bear.org/website/volunteer. You can submit an application on the same page. No need to re-apply if you have already sent in an application. Just contact
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.