Big Show, Big Snow - UPDATE December 09, 2024
Evening grosbeak female
I say ‘big show’ because the Children’s Hour
https://childrenshour.org/bears was a big operation hosted by Katie Stone who did a big job having students ready with questions, making it fun, and lining it up to air on nearly 200 radio stations. In fact, It’s no surprise that she did so much. Katie had so much fun with this podcast that she wants to learn more by coming to a Black Bear Field course in 2025. With all her experience, she might have a suggestion for making our children’s education even better, and we will show her all the ways the North American Bear Center engages our visitors about bears and the world of black bears here in northern Minnesota. One little error, though, was that the old bear man botched an easy question by saying “and there’s the moon bear in South America” when I should have said Southeast Asia.
Deer
Deer looking for food
Thank you, Katie, for making such a great show that began to air yesterday and will permanently reside on The Children's Hour website. My mission has always been to educate the public about the true nature of black bears and over the years getting that information to the public has evolved. Here at the Wildlife Research Institute we have Black Bear Field Courses every July and August. At the North American Bear Center visitors can see live bears and learn via reading, watching videos, movies, photos and interacting with the knowledgeable staff. To further our educational efforts the bear center is again taking intern applications for the 2025 season. These college students will learn all aspects of bear husbandry and share that knowledge for many years to come. Applications are now being accepted at:
https://bear.org/education/internship-program/I say ‘big snow’ because we had the biggest snowstorm of this fall with—8 inches. The day before the snowstorm, an evening grosbeak female that was in the shade was good to thrust her head into the sunlight for a look at her beautiful yellow neck and the big stout beak for which she is named.
Yesterday, when the snow covered the deer food we put out, a deer looked at me for help and I complied.
Blue Jay in snow
Blue jay looking for food
Red squirrel
Red squirrel wins
Today with the squirrel and blue jay food covered up, a blue jay wondered how to get to it, and a red squirrel demonstrated how to dig down to it for a good meal.
Or maybe the squirrel was thinking this?
Enough already!
Enough already!
Thank you for all you do,
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
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