This morning at 7:50 AM, RC was seen with her white-speckled forehead and crown, and this photo was sent to us. We've been waiting for a sighting to see if she has cubs. In 2023 when she was 24 she had one cub--River. Was a single cub a sign that it was her last litter, just as lone male Spanky was the last litter from Shadow--RC's mother? Shadow gave birth to Spanky when she was 28 in 2015, setting a new record as the oldest black bear ever to give birth on record--a record that still stands. The old record was age 26. If RC would have had cubs this year she would have tied the old record. But it seems that the daughter of the oldest black bear to give birth on record fell four years short of that record.
RC's observer said RC's behavior gave no indication of her having cubs, and I believe it, but we'll all have our eyes open for another sighting to see if she shows any indication of lactating.
There is very little data on the maximum age black bears can give birth. The ages or identification marks of wild bears are often unknown. Many are shot or hit by cars before they reach their maximum age. And most bears of known age that grow old enough to produce a litter at an advanced age are not observed enough to determine if they produced another litter two years later. I feel fortunate for the opportunities available in our study area where peaceful coexistence allows bears of known age and identity to be seen year after year.
Thank you for all you do,
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center