Bear News – September 30, 2023

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Jack-o’-lantern fun, Holly still digging, Lucky’s biscuit and Tasha’s roundness.

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”37021″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://bear.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/20230719_Lucky_2.jpg”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]It’s pumpkin carving time so that means you can vote on your favorite jack-o’-lantern. The interns will each carve one pumpkin and you can choose the bear that should receive each jack-o-lantern.

We will be posting the jack-o’-lanterns voting information on Facebook on Sunday, October 1, so be sure to check for the details on our Facebook page. The interns are very excited and hope to get many many votes for their creations; I challenge you all to vote.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”37026″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”37025″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”37024″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]In Tasha’s defense of my first statement of “Tasha’s roundness”, she has always been a healthy little bear and a bear that enjoys all her food. In Kentucky she would have gone into a den between mid-November to December and that remains true here at the center. Tasha is generally the last to go into hibernation. The only exception was in 2018, she dug a den and was in by October 3.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”37019″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”37020″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]Holly has been persistent in trying to dig a den and she refuses most of the time to leave the area. Her attempt to dig under the fence failed when the heavy rain came and washed the dirt away. She is now exploring in the same location. She has tried a few different places and is totally protecting the area.

This year the interns have experimented with different scents such as cedar, cinnamon and cherry. They rubbed the scents on the trees and logs so the bears can rub their fur on it. The citronella is used as scent enrichment also. In the past we have used oregano, pine, orange and nutmeg. The bears are enjoying the new scents.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”37023″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]Lucky bear posed for Mary (volunteer) as she gave him his biscuit. He likes the biscuits and his face and actions always tell the story. On Thursday he had a bit of mud on his face, to us it looked like he had been into a bear chocolate factory! In another incident with Lucky he enjoyed his enrichment cube but then kicked it into den #3. Paige (intern) had to crawl into the den, disappearing briefly to retrieve it.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”36958″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”36959″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]The colors are popping around the enclosure and along the roads of Ely. Marge (Pond Chat Volunteer) sent a nice picture of Tasha with reds and golds behind her. The PTZ cam takes great pictures. We are truly grateful to not only have the best cams but the best cam operators, thank you all.

Please watch for events coming up on our Facebook page. Again get ready to vote on the jack-o’-lanterns.

Thank you for all you do,
Sr. Bear Keeper, Sharon Herrell[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

2023 List of Updates

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