Bears having a picnicAt the Bear Center, the interns and Bear Educators are giving visitors young and old a good time. The word is spreading by word of mouth. Everyone is complimentary about the Bear Center and the new Ecology Hall. A popular part of the Ecology Hall is the corner with snakes to handle and monarch butterflies to watch transform. With everyone’s ideas, it has come together well, with still more to add.
Shadow and her cubOne downer, though, is that Jason will not become a taxidermy exhibit. Some time ago, the freezer his skin was in quit working. We replaced the switch and everything froze nicely again. Jason’s skin was in a hermitically sealed plastic bag. We hoped it didn’t spoil. We gave it to a taxidermist who let us know a couple days ago that the hair began falling out as soon as the skin thawed out. A blow. We’ll have to find another way to remember him.
Juliet and her family on July 27, 2014A community bear feeder a few miles away sent this picture of two bears having a picnic on a picnic table. The feeders said the picture represents why they came to this community to retire. "Doc, that picture I sent you is the reason Larry and I came to eagles nest to retire." They said it is easy and awesome to co-exist with bears. They enjoy them every day and what they have learned about bears changed their lives.
Reports of the two motherless cubs persist. The fact that there are two suggests that the cub rebuffed by Shadow is okay.
More info on Juliet and her family. The last known sighting is now July 27, 2014 when this family picture was taken.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center