Is the Cold Over?

The current temperature at 19 F is 36 degrees warmer than during the drive to work this morning.  The forecast is for temperatures remaining well above zero each night and reaching the low thirties most days for the next week or so.  By the time the warm front passes, it may be too late in the winter for temperatures in the twenties below.  At the same time, the cubs are growing fur.  Will we see them out in the open more?  We’re halfway toward the cubs gradually opening their eyes around 6 weeks of age. The views of the cubs have been phenomenal, but the best is yet to come!

Anyone squeamish about ‘scat talk’ may want to skip the next three paragraphs.

We are learning many things as we observe this mixed-age litter. We have wondered what Hope was doing with the milk she obviously consumes. We have seen Lily lick Hope and wondered if Lily was consuming Hope’s waste products like she is the cubs. It seemed unlikely. Several times we have seen Hope back to the den entrance and pause with her right hind foot near the camera tube. On one occasion we could even hear what sounded like Hope passing loose feces.

Today we observed more. Hope woke and began bawling but didn’t seem interested in nursing. Three times she backed to the entrance of the den and seemed to attempt to defecate. When she returned, Lily pawed at and licked beneath Hope’s tail (picture). Was Lily cleaning Hope or was she attempting to help Hope out by stimulating defecation like she does the new cubs? Hope moved around the den as Lily nursed the new cubs. Hope again backed to the entrance, but then continued bawling and pacing in the den, backing up (bears often back up to defecate), turning circles, etc. Finally she backed into the far side of the den and held ‘the position’ for several minutes and yawned as bears often do when they defecate. Only then did she join the nursing bout already in progress.

So why did Hope have difficulty? We aren’t sure. However, her feces are likely soft from consuming only milk. The feces may not have enough substance for her muscles to move effectively. She feels like she needs to but can’t easily. The bawling may simply have been her reluctance to soil the den—as evidenced by the fact she backed to the entrance four times.

Official end of ‘scat talk.’

Reports from the Bear Center’s Curator Donna Andrews are that Ted was making friendly sounds to Lucky and pawing at him while Lucky was trying to sleep.  Lucky made the submissive whine, perhaps not wanting to be awakened, but eventually became more animated with his friend Ted.

On Jason’s way to the den shed (WLAH-TV) this morning, he discovered a wolf-killed deer nearby.  According to Google Earth, it was just 152 yards from Lily’s den.  Jason began seeing the scent-marks from the wolf pack 2 miles from the den.  The carcass was typical in that everything edible had been eaten.  All that remained was some skin, the intact stomach near the center of the picture, and two legs with some skin attached.  The other legs and head were probably carried off to be eaten away from the main pack.

Team Bear reported that they had a copy of Olatz’ beautiful book ‘Lily and Hope: the Light of the Northwoods and a football autographed by the entire Green Bay Packers football team for the drawing this weekend.  A big thank you goes out to Olatz and the Green Bay Packers for donating these items.

Thank you for the many things you all do.

—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center