Females togetherQuestions from Lily Fans:
What does RC stand for and who is she? RC stands for Right Check for the identifying white check mark on the right side of her chest. Born in 1999, she is Shadows oldest know living daughter, now at 16.
Who is Fern? Fern is Jewel’s firstborn daughter, now 3 and a Den Cam veteran. Lily Fans watched her being born in 2012 and watched her as a yearling in a den in 2013. From the time she was a cub, she became accustomed to us visiting the den and adjusting the camera. She is confident with us, once she identifies us. When I first opened a door, she ran. But once she knew it was me and I dropped a couple hazel nuts (thanks to Lily Fans) to her from the second floor deck, I extended my hand in the feeding position next to the trunk of a white pine next to the deck. She couldn’t see what was in my hand. She waited on the ground a few seconds looking up to see if I would drop another one, but I just held my hand out to show I was offering food. Then she then quickly and confidently climbed the tree to my hand and gently ate the nuts. I reached into the bag for more. She understood. She then clambered onto the deck, confidently putting herself in vulnerable positions in the process. She wasn’t worried. Although she seldom comes to the WRI, I’ve been a familiar person in her life for over 3 years now. She would be excellent as a Den Cam bear.
Herring Gull eating Cheerios®Why should we send letters to the Governor and Commissioner?
When I met with the Governor in the summer of 2013, he had the Commissioner sitting next to him. We know now from the legal discovery what kinds of things the DNR had emailed to the Governor’s office to prep him for the meeting. No wonder he wasn’t receptive. His big question for me was ‘Why do you have to study bears so long?’ But he didn’t want to hear the answer, which basically was going to be that there is so much that we don’t know. I think it would be good for both of them, plus legislators, to know that there is interest in bears among adults and students, that the Den Cams are an excellent teaching tool, what people learn by actually seeing it for themselves is not easily forgotten, and that there is no public safety issue in watching a Den Cam—despite DNR claims to the contrary. I believe that only Lily Fans can let them know the value of what the Governor let the Commissioner deny all of you and thousands of students. Your letters may help for when I apply for a Den Cam permit later this year.
Along the line of what we don’t know, I saw something a few minutes ago that I can’t explain. A bear-feeder called. He had some other bear-friendly folks over from a few miles away. In his yard were two bears that would feed head to head as calmly as can be. I drove over to see. They were used to vehicles driving in and hardly looked up. From their size, they were at least 2 years old. One was recovering from mange that some bears get in the den. The fur grows out in spring and summer, but for now, she had no facial hair, which meant I couldn’t tell who she was. I couldn’t tell if she normally had brown eyebrows or what color her muzzle is. Both were very comfortable with people in that yard. The landowner is a friendly, good guy with lots of bear-friendly friends, and the bears had learned to be unafraid of anyone at that place.
Female with mangeThe landowner and I went over to them to try to identify them. We got the one with mange to sit up to determine sex—female. I figured the other one would be a male because they were old enough for two females to view each other as territorial competitors. I felt under the belly of the other one and then under its tail—another female. This one was a little bigger, possibly a 3-year-old. Checking her nipples, they were larger than the first ones’, making me think this second one could be 3 years old. I took pictures to eventually identify them by.
As I was writing this, another bear-feeder called to say the female with the mange face had just arrived and she was emailing a picture of it . It is hard to find tamer bears than these two. By then we’ll have their identities figured out. They haven’t been here at WRI this year yet, if they’ve ever come here. I look forward to Bear Course participants meeting these two—if not here, at bear-feeders homes who call us. Both are very relaxed around people at the feeding stations.
The photo of the hairless face shows that black bears have white or light gray skin (Polar bears have black skin).
Vote For ElyAn interesting side note is that this kind of interaction is nothing new in this community. It’s been going on for decades, which is one reason it’s been so easy to radio-collar bears without using tranquilizers. It’s likely also a reason there haven’t been any attacks in this community. Attacks are generally due to bears feeling threatened and defensive. Bears this accustomed to people are not likely to feel that way.
Back at WRI, Eli came again. This time, when he wanted to sniff my head, I let him.
Nature Note: Three herring gulls visit the WRI. At first they looked alike but the nasal openings on their beaks are individually shaped and one has a black dot on each side of its bill in addition to the usual red dot. It’s nice to be able to identify them as individuals. Today, I put out some outdated Cheerios® in case crows or other birds would want a heart-healthy meal as it said on the box. To my surprise, a gull came shortly and preferred the Cheerios® over the sunflower seed hearts it usually eats.
Ely is in the running for the title of Best Town in America. At this moment (8:42 PM) Ely has a very narrow lead (9,528 to 9,281) over the town it is paired with in this round of elimination. I know Lily Fans have been voting like mad in this close race. Maybe a few more will see this update and jump in. http://www.outsideonline.com/1972941/best-towns-2015 It would be good for a number of reasons for Lily Fans to help Ely win at this time. Voting in this round of elimination ends at the end of Friday May 8.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.