Daily Updates
Victor - UPDATE April 18, 2016
18 April 2016
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Victor is a bear we haven?t mentioned much. He used to be beautiful. We first met him when he was 4-6 years old in 2005, he looked a lot like June?s striking son Cole. He was one of the most Victor on 6/30/14
Victor on 6/30/14

handsome bears we ever saw. He was gentle with people, but his face soon began to show that he was not afraid to mix it up with competing males in mating season. Now, in the pictures of him at age 14 at the end of mating season (June 30, 2014), his big eyebrow patches are obscured by scars. Not readily visible is the fresh slice on the right side of his nose pad, Victor on 6/30/14
Victor on 6/30/14

his torn upper lip, and his torn right ear. Under the fur of his head and neck there is ridge upon ridge of scar tissue.
Assuming he wins at least some of the mating battles, we think we are seeing the exceedingly handsome fruits of his endeavors. Did Victor sire Juliet?s litter that included her two female cubs Sybil and Sophie? Did Victor tangle with Big Harry to sire June?s son Cole? By 14, will Cole be as scarred as his possible father is? Are some of Victor's scars from Big Harry? When we first saw Victor last year, it was still mating season, and he was on a mission. He was not interested in food or a hello. When mating season was over, we saw him more. Just as in the pictures from June 30, 2014, he was hungry and gave me the impression he was glad the mating battles were over. He was his usual mellow self. We look forward to seeing a lot of him again this summer when he is 16 with new wounds to heal. Bear Course participants always enjoy meeting Victor and being amazed that this battling giant is a calm, mellow bear with humans in this safe haven.
With only 10 slots to fill, we opened an additional course for July 31-August 3 to hold an additional 8 participants.
Sybil and Sophie - 8/13/12

Cole - 8/20/13

Snowshoe hare changing colors

Black ice
Black ice

A Lily Fan asked what black ice is (from last night?s update). To me, it is the color ice turns before it disappears. I looked it up on Wikipedia. It didn?t mention that. It is simply thin ice that takes on the color of the depths instead of reflecting the sky. The ice is colorless, as usual, it is just thin enough to see through in the day or two before it melts completely.
Snowshoe hares are now turning brown for summer.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center