Holly, Lucky, Volunteers, Gathering - UPDATE October 17, 2015
WRI Volunteers
WRI Volunteers

With the click of the camera, Holly was immediately awake, but it took Lucky a half minute longer. Both were very lethargic. They?re settling in. Lucky is in his regular spot in the back corner where he spent the winter with Ted some years back, with Honey after that, and by himself last winter. That?s his spot, which might be why he dragged the straw from the next door den to this one. Except for this picture, staff is not disturbing them because they want accurate dates for the denning contest. This view is what the Den Cam will show when we get the camera up?in a week or two they say.
Holly and Lucky in their den
Holly and Lucky in their den

The big, dead white pine is safely topped so it won?t fall on the WRI. Local volunteers gathered for their annual work day, joined by neighbors who managed the tree-topping. Here?s the moment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZdtNUOsG7E The tree held a lot of cubs over the years and can still hold some, but it will see more woodpeckers. We?re leaving the top where it fell, hoping for pictures of bears, squirrels, woodpeckers and other animals on it.
Feeling pumped up working with the volunteers drove home once again how much volunteers do for the North American Bear Center and Wildlife Research Institute. They know, and we know, how much they do and the huge difference they make in so many ways. Thank you.
Bear-hunting ends tomorrow a half hour after sunset at 6:44 PM.
Wildlife Research Institute
Wildlife Research Institute

The big Hinckley Gathering of recent years has moved to the Mystic Lake Hotel and Casino in Prior Lake, Minnesota. It?s happening in a couple weeks on November 7, 2015. This should be an easier spot for Lily Fans to reach. It begins at noon. The cost is $30, which includes a sandwich lunch buffet. The last day to confirm by paying the fee is October 31. More information is posted on the Facebook Event Page at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/540693516083617. See you there!
Tomorrow, Donna and I are off to The Wildlife Society meeting to give the Den Cam talk. We?ll resume the updates when we get back on Wednesday or so.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center