This will be an unusual post, but we think you’ll enjoy it (if it works). This was the ABR Facebook post from March 17, 2017.
ABR Update-March 17, 2017-A Shamrock of Cubs
As you know, Curator Coy is conducting a GPS collar study focused on our former furry residents. Jessica Giacomini, a UT graduate student, is also conducting a GPS collar study, but hers is centered on adult bears. In yesterday’s post regarding black bear response to the Wildfires in Eastern Tennessee, we saw the value of cooperation and sharing data. This cooperation is also essential to ABR’s commitment to revive our surrogate bear program; fostering very young orphaned cubs to mother bears denning in the wild. To do so, we have to rely on Jessica’s study to locate adult females, make sure they’ve borne cubs and are healthy enough to accept another.
We’re thrilled Jessica and Coy’s recent hike to a known den site produced evidence of a healthy mother bear with a shamrock of cubs: three baby males, about two months old. Mother was immobilized just long enough to check on her health and the health of her cubbies. All are well.
The window for surrogacy is a small one, and closes quickly. This family will be leaving their den soon, and when they do, the opportunity to foster a cub vanishes. We’re very happy we haven’t received a cub in need yet, and we wish Mother and her three sons a long and happy life.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
We’re thrilled Jessica and Coy’s recent hike to a known den site produced evidence of a healthy mother bear with a shamrock of cubs: three baby males, about two months old. Mother was immobilized just long enough to check on her health and the health of her cubbies. All are well.
The window for surrogacy is a small one, and closes quickly. This family will be leaving their den soon, and when they do, the opportunity to foster a cub vanishes. We’re very happy we haven’t received a cub in need yet, and we wish Mother and her three sons a long and happy life.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Here are the photos that went with the post.
Such wee little bears! And just think – right now in dens throughout the mountains scenes like this are playing out!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to All!