We feel sorry for the orphaned cub that is eating here. It showed up in daylight and revealed a nose/mouth full of porcupine quills on the left side of its muzzle.
Orphaned cub with porcupine quills
Cub at feederWe don't know this cub and can't get near it. The close-up pictures are out the window with a 400 mm lens. The cub is wary, scared, and trying to eat with all those quills.
It returned at 6:45 PM, and we saw it from a different angle. It was nearly dark, but the camera made it look lighter. We wonder what the bright oblong object is in its left ear. Is it tagged?
It takes the little guy a long time to eat, probably because of the quills. We're wondering if quills are what made it not want to use the left front paw yesterday. It's walking on that paw today. Without a permit to capture and drug it, I don't know how to get the quills out.
October Moon
It avoids the deer and the gray fox that come to the same feeder. The fox spent more time trying to catch mice than eating at the feeder.
Kimani and her two cubs put in another appearance last night, the 12th, which is the last day a bear is listed here last year.
Gray fox huntingTed's adventure in Tasha's pen and den and then crawling all the way into the rock den down by the viewing windows was captured in three videos by Lily Fans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih8l681lfKE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clmrpTnvJe0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgwe6T-k0j0
Deer at feederThe October moon reminds us that this month represents two things at the NABC: Membership month and the free Halloween Party. If you can help us and the bears with a new or renewed membership this month, you get a 2017 calendar and the usual free admission and 10% off on purchases. We know many of you buy memberships even when you know you might not make it here that year--all very much appreciated. Here's a link to the membership info http://bear.org/website/promotions.html (click the flyer on this page to place your order) Remember, your membership is tax deductible!
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Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center