At last, all of the eleven cubs at ABR are outside in their enclosures! We are happy, and we think they are, too! Now that the leaves have fallen, they can see into the next enclosure. They have been able to hear and smell their neighbors, but now they can see them, as well, if they are up a tree or on a platform.
Look how easily the cubs in Enclosure #2 can see over to enclosure #1.
In Enclosure #1, Turnip chose to sleep on the ground, a good choice for him with his injured paw.
The other cubs woke up and got ready to visit Turnip.
They prepared to start the day by visiting their friend on the ground.
Turnip, with the instincts of a wild animal, is being careful of his paw. The vets and curators think this will be better for him than further confinement.
The four cubs next door gathered at the base of a tree, just foraging and hanging out.
Suddenly their ears went up. They had heard something – who knows what, but cubs are very sensitive to sounds, sights, or smells. Good bears!
Over in Enclosure #4, Martha and Betsy chose to make their bed on the ground, too
In the morning, the sisters foraged while Tamale examined the vertical den. One of the rungs of the ladder is broken, but cubs don’t need ladders, anyway. We wonder if he’s thinking about a possible den site.
It’s great to see all the cubs outside now, and we hope that they continue to forage, play, and sleep as they prepare for their release in the not-to distant future (although they don’t know they are preparing for that event!)