Today’s high was 59 F, which is 97 degrees warmer than the minus 38 of about 3 weeks ago. Ted and Lucky celebrated by playing joyously together in their spacious den. It looked like fun. They rolled around biting lightly and letting themselves be rolled onto their sides. Play differs from fighting in that it is without vocalizations and the bites are gentle. These two seemed drawn to den together. They argued over bedding, and yet they play so joyously. It shows us that they can argue but still get along and be friends. Through the summer, they seek each other out so often that it’s not a stretch to say they seem to need each other. We hope they have long lives together. Lucky is only 4. Ted is 14. We wish them long and healthy lives into their thirties.
In Lily’s den, the warm weather did not the spark the play we’ve seen lately. Contented nursing with minimal squawking dominated the day. Did they get play out of their systems in the previous warm days? We’ll see what the official Den-watchers come up with in relation to temperatures and play.
Vigorous play like Ted and Lucky did today is a surprise and mystery to us. Why would bears with reduced metabolisms and no food since late November burn up energy playing? They are showing us the difference between reality and what a person might speculate. How different all this is from the usual belief that bears in dens just sleep.
Let’s Name those Cubs!
Team Bear has kindly offered to run a ‘name the cubs’ contest. The complete rules for the contest are at Contest Rules. But, in short, here’s their plan.
At the end of the 48 hour period, Team Bear will tally the entries and make a ‘Short List’ of the 3 most popular female names and the 3 most popular male names. They will send those 6 names to us for approval. If we have to remove a name like Stinky or Terror, the next most popular name will be inserted until the ‘Short List’ is approved. (We know you wouldn’t name Hope’s sister and brother those names.)
On Sunday (2/20) at 11:00 AM EST, Team Bear will draw a fan name from the emails submitted. The winner then has 24 hours to select two names from the list, one for the male cub and one for the female cub. The winner gets a certificate of honor and a copy of “Lily & Hope – the Light of the Northwoods” by Olatz Azcona Munarriz.
On Monday (2/21) at 8 PM EST, Team Bear will announce the winning cub names. We’re anxious to see the names you come up with! This will begin a new era in the saga of Lily, Hope, and the cubs.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
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