The Winners are announced!
And here’s the list!
| HIBERNATION CONTEST |
WEIGHT CONTEST |
| Ted Out of Hibernation on March 20 Winner: Jane Peel (closest guess 3/21) |
Ted Actual Weight 543 lbs. Winner: Paula Sumpter (Closest winner 538 lbs.) |
| Lucky Out of Hibernation on April 1 Winner: Lauren Evertz Holan (exact guess 4/1) Many guessed this correctly but Lauren was first to post. |
Lucky Actual Weight 430 lbs. Winner: Jeff Blackwell (Exact guess 430 lbs.) |
| Holly Out of Hibernation on April 1 Winner: Clarebear McCuen (exact guess) |
Holly Actual Weight 256 lbs. Winner: Tina Starner (Closest first guess 257 lbs.) |
| Tasha Out of Hibernation on March 21 Winner: Monique Marij Hovens (exact guess) |
Tasha Actual Weight 235 lbs. Winner: Marge Reid (Exact guess 235 lbs.) |
Liz Schaefer caught a good, encouraging look at Ted’s hind feet. The old pads are shedding, which might explain why he was able to run so lithely across his pen to say something to Lucky a couple days ago.
Carolyn
The first bear that anyone was able to identify in this area was seen today. It is 2-year-old Carolyn, daughter of Donna, Granddaughter of Blackheart, Great Granddaughter of Shadow. Carolyn is easy to identify by her brown chin and upper throat. I’ve never seen a marking like that before.
Carolyn
The weather and changes this time of year are exciting. Suddenly, the landscape is mostly brown and green. The remaining snow is melting fast. Woods Lake is opening up. This morning, I saw the first loon on it—not because it is a good loon lake (It’s not) but because it’s about the only open water in the area. The loon didn’t stay long enough to get a picture. The remaining ice is black, as shown in the picture from late this morning. The forecast is for 45°F overnight for more melting and an early start tomorrow which is supposed to get up to 66°F. Things are happening fast now.
The woodchuck that I think is a pregnant female has not tried dill pickles yet, but she loves pineapple. She is easy to identify by the little round scar on the top middle of her muzzle. She is the one that was gathering grass for her burrow a couple days ago.
 Mink clear |
 Woods lake |
 Woodchuck |
An unusual thing a couple nights ago was the mink named Clear looked like he was falling asleep waiting for bologna. He would close his eyes and nod his head. When he finally saw the bologna, he seemed to have to wake up before coming to get it. We are grateful that the animals here are giving us looks into how they live and learn.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center