As you know, the release of the three yearlings has been imminent for a week or more. On Thursday, November 12, it happened! We have photos of the work up of the first one, #316 Mulberry Bear, who arrived on July 18, weighing 31.8 pounds, about half of what would have been a healthy weight for a 17-month-old yearling. Here is what happened on November 12, not quite four months later.
Mulberry was immobilized in the Acclimation Pen and carried to the staging area.His weight was 122.2 pounds! Quite an impressive gain in four months!Mulberry received his new, permanent ear tags.His vitals were monitored and he was cooled by the application of bags of frozen fruit.What big paws Mulberry has!His feet are big, too! The better to take him through the woods.A healthy bear, Mulberry has nice, thick fur.Curators and Park Rangers worked together to take measurements of Mulberry.What a beautiful and healthy set of teeth! All of the data is carefully recorded.Soon, Mulberry was ready to go.Mulberry was placed in the transport carrier, where he waited until the other two yearlings were worked up. Then all three of them left ABR to return to the wild.
Our next post will be a review of the yearlings and their lives at ABR. We are glad that their release went well and we wish them long and healthy lives in the wild, where bears belong. Good bye and good luck, yearlings!
