3 Days and Counting!

3 Days and Counting!

Update July 9, 2010 - 9:59 PM CDT

Hope was off foraging on her own in the boonies today.  Lily was across a lake and 1.5 to 2 miles away from her as the crow flies.  We checked on Hope’s radio-signal throughout the day, and by 9 PM she had moved closer to a road.  We’ll likely be able to reach her with formula, etc., in the morning.  We were very glad to get the scat from her yesterday totally filled with wild food—ant pupae.

Some of you saw the whole ants and pupae cases and wondered if Hope had gotten any nutrition from them.  However, the pupae cases were empty and the pupae themselves had been totally digested.  The ants were ingested only incidentally as Hope licked up the pupae.  The worker ant still holding the pupae case was an unexpected find.  It was ingested and digested—yet still intact!

With only 3 days to go in the Chase Community Giving Contest, we were glad to see how you are keeping the Bear Center securely in the top 5.  It is taking more votes to maintain position than we anticipated, and it’s hard to imagine the amount of work that’s requiring of you—all much appreciated as you can imagine.  You are also keeping the Wildlife Research Institute in 12^th place.  Thank you.

Vote for the North American Bear Center at:  http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/411838192-north-american-bear-center

Vote for the Wildlife Research Institute at:  http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/237320150-wildlife-research-institute

Other good things continue to happen thanks to your support.  More treats showed up for staff at the Bear Center yesterday.  What a joy to feel your support.

We are gradually getting to meet some of you as you visit the Bear Center, and we’re looking forward to the Lilypad Picnic July 30 to August 1.

Thank you again for all you are doing at this critical time.

—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center