Blackheart has three or four cubs.  This is the bear that was hit by a pickup truck and recovered. 

Two of us approached her open, above-ground den on Saturday afternoon, February 2.  The day was bright overcast, a foot of snow, twenties, and no wind--a nice winter day. 

Fifteen feet from the den, we saw Blackheart rise up and look over the log.  We said the familiar "It's okay, Blackheart, it's me" and she nestled back down into her deep bed to brood the cubs.  We extended the infrared camera.  She sniffed it and looked away.  She had seen it two winters ago and knew it was nothing to worry about.  She moved her foreleg to let it pass under her chest where the cubs were giving their motor-like hum as they nursed. 

We felt grateful that Blackheart is willing to show us and the public how black bears do things that only a trusting bear like Blackheart would let anyone see.  The lack of wind made it comfortable for the cubs to poke their heads out from beneath her.  One yawned cute into the video camera as it lay nestled in her long fur.  Its eyes were tightly closed and will begin to open in a month or so when the cubs approach six weeks of age.  Blackheart rose slightly to reposition herself, and the cubs did not squawk about the cold on this calm day.  We quickly counted two sets of squirming arms and legs.  A third popped its head out by her hip.  A short time later, a head popped out where we wondered if it could be a fourth. 

We don't know their sexes yet and don't know what to name them.