Ted and Holly PlayWe wanted to see how Ted and Holly interact this year. I was there to see it! It reminded me of the early days between Ted and Lucky. Lucky was tentative at first, then totally trusting. We’ll see if Holly can make that transition.
Seeing them not that far from each other, I grabbed a camera. Ted was in good light. I went in with him, got a couple licks, and tried for a couple pictures of him alone. The first one didn’t come out that well. He looked like all head and a tiny body. Misleading. Ted was making his high-pitched grunts of friendliness, emphasized by tongue clicks that said how badly he wanted contact and closeness. But then, he abruptly turned away and went toward Holly making the same sounds. He is finally ready to form a relationship with her like he had with Lucky. I’m looking for delightful interactions between them this summer and hearing the ooo’s and ahhh’s that visitors made when Ted and Lucky played years ago.
At this point, Holly is tentative with her play with Ted. She initiates it but retreats when Ted wants to get more fully into it. We’ll watch as she relaxes, trusts Ted, and shows the trust and gentleness that typifies bear play. This video shows 2 ½ minutes of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQB2GaA4r84
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| Holly with a stick | Ted in Honey's den | Handsome Ted | Ted on a rock |
On Saturday, I did a 12-minute radio interview about how dangerous black bears are or aren’t at http://www.breakradioshow.com/archives/breakthrough-entertainments-bear-show-airdate-april-11-2015/
It’s Volunteer Week, so at 1 PM today, Scott and I drew the names of 5 volunteers out of a bucket to see who I could call and thank for being part of a big volunteer effort that helps us do so much more than would otherwise be possible. However, our drawing could not compete with Holly’s show of energy as she played with a tub and climbed trees to bite branches off the tops. This is a time when bears are supposed to be in walking hibernation with metabolisms that are still reduced.
Click image to see calendar of events
A Lily Fan put together five points regarding the DNR’s bill (SF1303) that the Senate Finance Committee under Senator Cohen has currently.
- Following the hearing this past spring, one of the rulings by Judge Tammy Pust was to allow ongoing feeding of bears. The DNR had no evidence to support their claim that feeding black bears is a danger to the public.
- The DNR instituted the bear feeding ban Section of the bill in spite of Judge Pust’s ruling. Apparently the DNR was not pleased with the judge’s findings.
- An Appeal of the Judge Pust’s findings is currently in process and scheduled to be heard on April 22.
- If the DNR can push the bill through the Legislative process, making it LAW before April 22, the Appeal is meaningless. Bear feeding will be ended for most in the state, except for hunters and anyone the commissioner decides to give a special permit to (which apparently means that feeding is a public safety issue unless it is for a purpose the commissioner likes).
- This bill banning feeding fits with a statement in a newspaper summarizing the words of DNR spokesman Chris Niskanen that the DNR would carry out their decision against us no matter what the judge says.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.