It was a quiet day. No shots heard with only a half hour of shooting time to go. The loudest sound was a red squirrel calling not far from the outdoor microphone.
Lucky in the white pine
Holly's winter den renovationsAt the Bear Center, staff snapped pictures inside Holly’s den, which has a lumpy floor that some straw might help. Sharon said the entrance is 24 inches high by 24 inches wide. The den goes back 4 feet and is about 4 feet wide at its widest point. Will she stay with this den or join Lucky again?
I don’t know why Lucky is spending time up the white pine lately.
Tasha went near the den and peered over the rock by the entrance. Holly blew from inside. It’s too early to den up, but Holly is readying a den anyway.
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| White-breasted nuthatch | Red squirrel |
Other bears have made dens as early as July. A video in the Cub Room shows June making a den on July 19, 2004—the den where she went on to give birth to George and Pete. George dispersed out of the study area as a yearling. Sue removed his radio-collar at his den that fall, and we never saw him again. Pete never wore a radio-collar because he would not allow touching even though he spent his year and a half with June having Sue, me, and others frequently present. Over the years, he became more relaxed. We saw 11-year-old Pete as recently as two days ago.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center