What have we learned?

Sue has been reviewing den cam footage of times where 3 cubs might have been seen or heard.  The harmonics in the motor-like hum of nursing sometimes sounds like two cubs, but so far she can’t definitely say there are more than two.

Best guess of the sexes based on video from at about one day of age is a male and a female.  If we guessed that right, with a 1 in 3 chance of being right by pure chance, we’ll be pretty amazed.  We are most confident about the male and less confident about the female.  We’re putting these words out there to eat later.

We were surprised at the vigor and agility of the 24-hour-old cub that moved quickly up the slope of the bed shortly before we saw its hindquarters and guessed male.  We didn’t know cubs of that age could move like that.

Hope is surprising us with her immediate motherly demeanor toward the cubs, gently sniffing and licking them.  We don’t know if the licking is to gather information or is a sign of friendship.  Bears that become friends greet each other with a lick as dogs do to people and each other.  The video of Ted and Lucky becoming friends shows this best.

We are seeing that Lily is giving preference to the new cubs, hovering over them to keep them warm, fed, and clean.  Hope sometimes gets access to a nipple and nurses briefly, but Hope didn’t bawl for access most of the day.  Lily is not opening herself up to Hope and letting cold air onto the cubs.  We should have known, we guess, but it is great to see how well things are working.  All the sounds are normal and expected.  It seems all is well.

As it is turning out, Lily knew best, Hope is a sweetheart, and we are feeling better about the survival of the new cubs.    We can’t wait to see things develop further and watch their interactions in and out of the den.  Hope didn’t have playmates as a cub.  Now she’ll have two, plus Lily.  She was denied access to Lily earlier, now she may get an extra year with her.

Jason was a hero again.  He suited up and snowmobiled to the shed again to see why the batteries were getting low.  Insulation had fallen from the ceiling, letting heat escape and cooling the batteries below their best operating temperature.  All is well now.  The picture is of him smiling bravely before he headed out.

People heard about Lily and Hope today on Goodday Sacramento http://www.facebook.com/v/187000107986053 and NorthlandsNewsCenter  http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/video/A-First-Look-at-Lily-the-Black-Bears-Newborn-Cubs--114432109.html.

Now, we are wondering which other bears have cubs.  Within the clan, we’re predicting cubs for Shadow (the 21-year-old matriarch), Donna (11), Dot (11), June (10), Braveheart (9), Colleen (8), Shannon (6), Ursula (6), and Bow (5), Lily (4), and maybe Jo (3).  But with the deep snow this winter, it’s very hard to get around, even with a long-track snowmobile.  Most of the cub checks will have to wait for spring.

We see the debt going down!  Thank you Team Bear, Pond Chat, and so many others who are doing so much.  What a way to celebrate the birthdays of Lily, Hope and the new cubs.  Thank you.

We also see students coming to Lily’s Facebook page and so many of you veterans answering questions and helping each other as new people come on line.  Wonderful.

Thank you for all you do in so many ways.

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