More Cubs, Josie Seen, and Woodchucks - UPDATE July 10, 2022
Another clan mother with cubs has been seen. It is 10-year-old Vanna (daughter of Dot, granddaughter of Blackheart, great granddaughter of Shadow), and she has three cubs that people are hoping to learn their sexes soon.
Still waiting for a sighting of Lily. A person would think that a bear this comfortable with people would be the first one seen, but we know it doesn’t work that way and are remaining hopeful.
Josie by Ken Hupila
Josie by Ken Hupila
Local professional photographer Ken Hupila got an excellent picture of 2-year-old female Josie (daughter of RC, granddaughter of Shadow) who had part of her nose bit off. We haven’t seen this bear since she was a yearling. She was about nine miles away with another bear, presumably a male, and apparently doing fine. Females don’t usually disperse that far, but there is a bell-shaped curve on that and some do, which presumably is why we haven’t seen her. It is good to see that she survived and is doing okay.
Out the window, the mother woodchuck and one of the babies posed close to each other with the baby in the background almost as big as its mother. Both were eating white clover and maybe other vegetation. Somehow it reminded me of an old chant that I know I’m not getting right but it made me want to say: Greens, greens, the vegetable food; the more you eat the better you feel; so let’s eat greens for every meal.
When the mother stood up, her mammaries weren’t as swollen as I’d always seen in the last couple months, so I wonder how long it will be before the babies are on their own. We’ll be watching.
Thank you for all you do,
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
