Winston
Just before we tucked 2 week old Winston in amongst hot water bottles and warm blankets for his first night here. He’d had his milk and gone to the bathroom and seemed quite content despite having lost his mother only that morning……a little trooper.
N & O Cubs Together Again
Because the reunion of the N siblings was so stress-free for them, a short time later we opened the adjoining door to the O cub’s enclosure and let him in too.
As you can see it was a non-event, further proof that the N cubs knew the O cub from their time spent together as orphans at the same apple tree before being rescued. Normally cubs are leery of other cubs they don’t know.
While the O cub is small for his age, the exceptionally tiny N cubs make him look larger than he actually is. All 3 cubs have grown and are doing well, getting nice and fat for winter. ❄️
The reunion of the N siblings.
The little N girl was caught and brought to us 2 weeks before her brother, who fortunately stayed safe during that time and was able to make it here too, to be reunited with his sister as well as their friend the O cub, who had arrived 1 week after the N girl (we let the Ns meet before reuniting with him too).
In this clip the N boy (who was as tiny as his sister!) had just been placed in the N girl’s enclosure and, after watching momentarily from up on her platform, she came down to see him. While he had 2 things to contend with…..seeing his sister again and exploring this new space…..she was completely focused on him.
She vocalized with a submissive whimper, indicating that she knew her brother. We’ve heard this sound before when reuniting cubs, my best translation being “It’s just me! And I’m so glad to see you again!”.
Please share and help let people know that animals have feelings too, thank you.
~ Judy
The N Girl
Due to her great appetite our little N cub has gotten much larger. Surviving thanks to an apple tree before being caught, she knows the best way to eat them!
3 month old Winston in April, 2023. Happy Winston Wednesday!
Blueberry Update!
Some context on this video that Jeff sent today from Blueberry’s new home at the Wisconsin Black Bear Education Center;
For most of her year-long stay with us we didn’t talk to or touch Blueberry and had minimal contact, as per our protocol in order to keep her natural wariness of humans for her safety after she was released. Once we realized Blueberry would never be able to return to the wild and would be living in a sanctuary we changed the plan and started spending more time with her, getting a bit closer, saying hello by letting her sniff our hand, and talking softly to her. It would now be more beneficial and less stressful for her to be comfortable around her human caregivers. She was still leery and would often huff at us but was slowly starting to trust and we were glad because we knew that she was a sweet and gentle soul.
So here is Miss Blueberry, only 4 days after arriving at Jeff’s facility, getting a good chin-scratch from him and looking very relaxed and content.
Bears Will Be Bears
Everly, Elijah, Etta, Felix and Hugo were relaxed and playing around in their favourite tree at dusk in last evening’s blustery weather. Donald and Harrison watched from the ground, maybe wishing they could go up too but no room! Elsewhere in the enclosure were Derry and Holly.
Suppertime for the little “N” cub……she always hustles right over as soon as the coast is clear.
Night Music
Not the greatest sound, but turn up the volume if you’d like to hear the local coyote chorus tonight. I’m back to my late night bear care and so get to see and hear all sorts of magical things. ✨
Our new little one. Cubs are born in January and she’s the size our other cubs were in May, so we and our vet believe she’s most likely been on her own since about that time, thus her stunted size. Her energy would have gone into just surviving rather than growing. But she made it……her ordeal is over and food and rest are now aplenty.
The New Arrival
Observing our tiny new cub as she nervously checked out her new home shortly after arriving. It will take her a while to settle in but we think she’ll do just fine.
