A surprise showing of That's Old News on WDIO TV yesterday is worthy of mention today. It was mainly about 3-year-old Blackheart and her first litter (Dot and Donna) that can be seen in the den. Today, 25-year-old Donna is often the earliest bear to be sighted in spring. Last year, she and her two yearlings showed up on March 21, which is only a week away. But I don't think she'll be so early this year with the newborn cubs she is scheduled to have. They aren't yet mobile enough to travel like the yearlings did last year. The picture of Donna lying relaxed with an arm up is from 2023 when she was nursing her family. I look forward to seeing her and her cubs whenever they show up this year. Donna's age of 25 is not unusual in this area that has been known for its peaceful bear/human coexistence since 1958 when the local community began diversionary feeding and keeping the local bears out of trouble. I brought a film crew to see 3-year-old Blackheart back in March 2000 in order to show what black bears are really like and encourage coexistence. Blackheart was a little nervous with the extra people, but all was well, and she probably saved some bear lives with what was learned by the many local viewers of that popular TV station. Donna the bear is one of the special bears today. She's produced 31 cubs. We'll see if she had another litter or two to go. The long-time record for giving birth by black bears was 26 until Shadow broke the record by having her last cub Spanky at 28. Donna is Shadow's granddaughter, so we'll see how close she can come to Shadow's record.
https://www.wdio.com/lift-online/thats-old-news-a-bear-of-a-career
Otter at hole
 Otter pair |
 Otter near hole |
Otters were part of the excitement today as we wait for bears. We seldom see otters, but a few days ago one showed up on the near shore of the lake outside my window where it has a hole in the ice. Otters dig from under the ice to make such holes, holding their breath up to eight minutes; but it's still a bit of a mystery to me how they manage. Today with the temperature at 57 degrees F, not only did he (guessing he) spend a lot of time being visible from my window, but another otter showed herself (guessing her) for the first time resting next to a second hole where she (guessing she) caught and ate a fish. It turned out that they knew each other, maybe as mates? After awhile, she dove down her ice hole, came up his ice hole, and they sat snuggled side by side for a few minutes. We'll see what happens over the next days or weeks before the ice melts and they scatter.
Raccoon
Another surprise was that the hundreds of pine siskins suddenly totally disappeared with the arrival of a flock of over 40 crows. No siskin was seen for nearly two days. Then a few came trickling back eventually becoming about 50. But now their numbers have dropped to about 15 today. They normally don't head back north until late March or early April, which is why I think it was the many crows that made them leave. Before that, the siskins would scatter whenever a raven flew by. The nice memory of being swarmed by the siskins was just 3 days before the crows arrived in such big numbers.
After not seeing a raccoon all winter, one paid a visit a week ago and held still for a picture in low light.
Spring is coming!
Thank you for all you do as we wait for bears.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center