Jewel in her denToday we wanted to answer questions about Jewel and her den. The main question was whether Jewel is alive, considering the gaping hole that let us see into her abdominal cavity at the end of August. She is not only alive but has at least one cub that she nursed nearly the whole time we were there. We also checked how easy it would be to carry the shed parts (roof, walls, etc.) to a location where the sun could sufficiently power the solar panels. In the past, we’ve done this just after deer season before the snow gets too deep to carry heavy, bulky objects. Jewel’s area is steep, rocky, and densely vegetated with many blow-downs and deep snow. We have to do more exploration to see where to put the shed and solar panels, so I asked the DNR for an extension of the 72 hours. Before we bind ourselves to rules that are more restrictive than those for the general public, we want to make sure we can place a den cam at this time of year.
Jewel in her denThe den itself is beautiful. It has an open front that allows light in. It extends so far back that there was no snow near her bed. The bright snow made it hard to see details, so we snapped a couple pictures with a long lens from outside the den. The photos revealed that the bedding is rather sparse, which means it would not obstruct our view.
The cub(s) was/were tucked away under her nursing. Jewel was awake, of course. Mothers don’t move much when they are nursing, and she had no reason to move, especially knowing it was me with my “It’s me bear.” The first of the two pictures caught her calmly looking toward the entrance and the other with her head on her paw when she knew who was outside. So different from the reactions the Den Cams have captured to moose or other animals outside Lily’s dens. We’d love to put a Den Cam in her den and are asking for more time to schedule the logistics of getting back out there when my partner doesn’t have a doctor appointment or other business scheduled. The surprise of suddenly having 72 hours to see what is possible at this time of year caught us off guard. I also asked if the DNR would get behind this Den Cam and promote it on the DNR’s new Facebook page and show the world what we can do together if we can truly manage the logistics of getting the shed in place. I asked that in a spirit of cooperation and mending fences. I’d like to be seen as working with the DNR, and let my work speak for itself.
Jewel's den covered in snowHowever, I was discouraged that the DNR letter granting the Den Cam was page after page of half-truths they made public, blackening my name. I’ll have to respond, and the truth will be more interesting than the letter; but I wish I didn’t have to spend time on that when there is such a need to move forward. Much of the letter seemed geared toward passing a feeding ban like the DNR tried to pass last year. The DNR has already approached legislators about that in preparation for the legislative session that begins in a little over a month.
Here is a link to the letter and permit.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center