ARCHIVED WILDLIFE

LeeLee · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:54 pm **Posts:** 471

Yippee!!! The video was so great, I was overwhelmed with joy. I could not have taken any other outcome, our dear Hope is sooooo sweet, and strong, and determined :girlluv:

I sure hope they keep a better tab on our precious cub from here on out. Was also glad to find out that Lily tried, but could not find Hopes scent due to the rain. I was afraid she left to find the male and abandon Hope. Glad that is not the case. Maybe she will be a little more protective of Hope going forward. Cant wait to see a new video of them together. All is ok in the world once again.... :spingirl:

eiguoc · **Posted:** Fri May 28, 2010 6:24 am

Still Glowing

All is well. We feel very good about all that happened yesterday. There are those who say we should not have intervened. But we think we answered bigger scientific questions by getting the facts. One question was whether the cub was sick and if Lily intentionally abandoned it because she knew something we didn’t. By catching the cub we could see it was a very vigorous cub even after 5 days. And after witnessing Lily’s wholehearted acceptance of Hope it’s difficult to believe she meant to abandon her. It also shows wildlife managers that cubs that have been away from their mother for 5 days can be returned. Some suggest that mother’s will abandon single cubs so they can mate and produce 3 cubs the next winter. While that might sound good by the numbers it didn’t sound good to Lily. It also showed that mothers whose breasts have turned hard and lumpy can still nurse.

What led to the reunion?

Hope after 5 days on her own - May 26, 2010

In part, it was persistence by a caring community. While we were searching the area where Hope was last seen, community members were searching more widely. The decision Mike and Ellen Kochevar made to search ‘one more time’ before they left town for a few days proved fateful. They spotted Hope on the side of the road in the area Lily and Hope had been just before moving around the lake—a full 2 miles away from where she had been seen on Tuesday! She ran when she saw them, but they were able to tree her and give us a call. We geared up and hurried to the scene. Two more calls came as we were on the way. “She’s coming down. What do we do?” “Do whatever it takes to keep her up there!” was the answer. “She’s weak and I don’t think she can hold onto the tree much longer!” “If she comes down, grab her by the scruff and don’t let go. We’re almost there!”

At first, it seemed unbelievable that this 4-month old cub could navigate the 2 miles back ‘home’ in her nutritionally stressed state. But as soon as we saw that unmistakable light face we knew it was Hope. She looked exhausted and we thought maybe she was weakened from hunger. Sue dipped a 5-foot long stick into sweetened condensed milk and extended it to the cub. Hope licked it and grabbed it with a paw. We lured her down within reach.

When Lynn grabbed her she dispelled all notions that she was weak or sick! Spunky Hope fought like a demon—screaming at the top of her lungs. She bloodied both of us as we worked to get into the pet carrier. Inside the carrier she didn’t let up. She was a scared slapping spitfire!

We emptied an entire bottle of electrolyte supplement into the carrier and Hope interrupted her defensive displays to lap it up. We gave her spoonfuls of sweetened condensed milk, which she eagerly licked. We finally slipped the entire dish into the carrier. She quieted down but was quick to slap and blow in her nervousness.

We put the pet carrier in the van and drove to radio-locate Lily a mile away. We found Lily about 0.1 miles off a road. We wondered if Hope’s cries would bring Lily to the rescue. Instead, Lily fled a half mile away! We tracked her down to the area where they had bedded at a white pine for a couple weeks after leaving their den. Lily wasn’t coming out to us so we decided to take Hope in to Lily. This is when our roller-coaster of emotion took a down-turn. Just as we were entering the forest, Hope’s frantic attempts to find a way out of the carrier were rewarded. The door popped open and Hope escaped!

She paused just long enough to look back at us, and then vanished into the forest. We were speechless. What now? Would Hope recognize this area she had spent so much time in as a wee little cub? Would she remember the white pine that was her security?

Lynn homed in on Lily’s signal and tried something new. At this critical time, could he get Lily to follow him for the good nuts that her fans had sent? The nuts worked. An hour later, as Lynn and Lily were approaching the white pine, Sue rejoined them and said in a hushed voice “There’s Hope.” She had appeared as quickly and silently as she had disappeared earlier.

Lily nursing Hope near white pine just after reunification - May 26, 2010

As soon as Lily noticed Hope she ignored us and the nuts. At 30 feet apart, both bears seemed unsure. Hope moved. Lily seemed scared and started up a tree. Then she moved cautiously forward and so did Hope. Less than 10 feet apart and recognition was certain. They quickly came closer and showed what Lynn said was “the most beautiful display of animal emotion” he has ever seen.

Hope cried and tried to get as close to Lily as possible. Lily responded with her sweet motherly grunts—showing her acceptance and more. Hope tried to nurse while Lily half-dragged her toward the white pine where they had nursed so many times in April. Lily lay down and Hope eagerly nursed for the first time in at least 122 hours. We caught a little video of this touching scene and then slipped away.

We checked on them today and everything seemed back to normal with them playing and nursing. We will never take such simple family scenes for granted again!

We promised an update in Juliet but don’t have much yet to report. Yesterday a homeowner reported seeing her and said she appeared to be injured. He thought she had perhaps been hit by a car. He did not see any cubs, but they could have been left at a bed tree. The call came while we were in the midst of working to reunite Lily and Hope so we couldn’t go check her out. Hopefully we will be a little less busy when the next call comes in.

Bears face many challenges. 82% of the deaths documented in our 44 years of study have been from humans (shooting, trapping, vehicles, trains, electrocution, etc.). We’re glad in the case of Lily and Hope we could do something to help and obtain useful scientific information in the process.

Once again we’re overwhelmed by the generosity Lily and Hope fans have shown. We are shaking our head in disbelief at the thermometer level. Wow! Thank you so much! Your contributions will go a long way to furthering our educational efforts.

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

eiguoc · **Posted:** Fri May 28, 2010 8:21 am

newborn twins from yesterday

mwplay · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:15 am **Posts:** 10249

Worried about Hope

May 29, 2010 – 10:38 PM CDT

Lily is enthralled with Hope. She won’t leave her. She runs back grunting when Lily lags behind. But we believe Lily’s milk is drying up from the 5 days of not nursing.

Hope has lost her 'spunk' and we are worried.

Our examination of Lily’s breasts today (Saturday) showed hard lumps without much of the soft tissue that surrounded the lumps when we examined them on Wednesday morning, the fifth day of separation.

After they were reunited that evening, and again during observations the next day, Lily nursed Hope a lot. We hoped nursing would stimulate milk production if it indeed had diminished during their 5-day separation. We wondered at that time if the unusual, hard, lumpy portion of Lily’s mammary glands could produce milk. We now doubt it. Today those lumps are still there, but the soft surrounding portions of the breasts are flaccid, not swollen with milk as they were 3 days ago.

Hope didn’t nurse in the entire 3.5 hours Sue observed them this afternoon. Hope attempted to nurse once but a distant sound scared Lily and she stood up and looked attentively in that direction. Hope fed on mountain maple blossoms, young raspberry leaves, and peavine—but none of these foods make up for the lack of Lily’s rich milk. Hope defecated twice during the walk. One scat contained crayfish parts and both scats were collected for further analysis.

Lily tries to play with Hope. Hope used to come back for more rough play. Now she whines and wants to rest.

On the other hand, Hope won’t let Lily out of her sight. When Lily entered the water, Hope followed and swam (82 F today). When Lily moved off, Hope followed but soon tired. Lily tried to drag Hope along. This is the time of year bears need to travel to find ant colonies to eat the larvae and pupae, which is usually the first major food for cubs. Mothers open the logs and turn over the rocks and cubs dash in and eat. Hope tries to follow but has no energy and has to rest.

Hope is no longer the vigorous cub she was before the separation or just 3 days ago. Before, she could climb a tree as fast as a squirrel and run like a rabbit. Today, she climbed 5 feet and was so weak she had difficulty hanging on. She bit a branch to keep from falling. She later climbed high into another tree looking like she wanted to rest, but Lily moved off and Hope came down to follow.

While examining Lily, we gave Hope a cup of sweetened condensed milk. She consumed it voraciously. She was so engrossed in the milk that she allowed an examination for the first time. Under her fur, she is emaciated, in muscle breakdown, with prominent shoulder and hip bones.

With this information, saving Hope becomes our focus. We are getting criticized for intervening. In a future update we may cover the many reasons why helping is right ethically and scientifically. We are seeking help from veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators, and wildlife agencies, leaving no stone unturned on how best to save Hope’s life and give her a long life in the wild.

On a more positive note, a very generous anonymous donor has stepped forward offering to match 2 to 1 up to $100,000 any donations given in the month of June. That means if someone donates a dollar, the anonymous donor will give two dollars up to $100,000 for a total of $150,000.

Thank you so much for your recent outpouring of support.

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

kittenface · **Posted:** Sun May 30, 2010 2:16 am

NO this can't be happening to these 2 its just not fair :sosad2

eiguoc · **Posted:** Sun May 30, 2010 9:16 am

I'm saying little prayers for them

Beth · **Posted:** Sun May 30, 2010 10:41 am

I thought we were on the road with no problems but not so...
Appreciate all the updates and reports.

eiguoc · **Posted:** Sun May 30, 2010 11:26 am

Hope seems a littler perkier this morning, She readily ate the formula we brought & some pecans. SM

LeeLee · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:54 pm **Posts:** 471

At this point, Hope is alive, and if need be, I am hoping they would take her and rehab until she can be returned to Lily, if Lily would accept her back after a couple weeks or whatever was needed. How long does Hope need milk? Is it so long that after that point Lily would not take her back? Dont they stay with their moms for a few years, learning from them, etc long after stopping the nursing? Is it a possibility to return her? She is soooo beautiful and special, and even if it meant Lily wouldnt take her back, I would want them to snatch her and save her. Poor precious Hope, it is horrible to think of her as passive or weak because her natural healthy personality is strong, independent, curious, and non=stop. I hope they take her before she reaches a point of no return. PLEASE, we love our little Hope. :beathrt:

eiguoc · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 10:10 am

Hope Improves
May 30, 2010 – 8:36 PM CDT

Lily and Hope - May 30, 2010

What a wonderful resource Lily’s fans are! Again, you all pulled together and came up with good help. Many people came up with great suggestions and your outpouring of concern and offers of help have been heartwarming.

Among the suggestions was a formula that simulates high-fat bear milk. Nearly all the ingredients were available in this small town. We were at the store this morning when it opened to buy canned goat’s milk (and we may be able to get fresh goat’s milk eventually) plus heavy cream, egg yolks, plain yogurt, fish oil, calcium carbonate, Vitamin B complex, and Vitamin C.

We were all worried that Hope was too weak to follow Lily after what we saw yesterday. When we saw on the computer this morning that Lily had moved nearly four tenths of a mile, we wondered if Hope was with her. You can imagine our relief when a perkier Hope bounced into view behind her. Could the cup and a half of sweetened condensed milk last evening have made such a difference?

Lily came over, with shy Hope came cautiously behind. She saw the same container she drank from last night and timidly came up beside Lily to check it out. She loved the new formula!

We were immensely relieved to see the difference in Hope’s zip today. Last evening, she could barely support her weight climbing a short way up a tree. Today, a sound startled Hope and Lily and they both shot up a tree about 15 feet.

Hope and Lily Playing - May 30, 2010

Hope was more improved on our second visit this afternoon. After drinking as much formula as she wanted, Hope followed Lily 30 feet away where Lily sat down in the nursing position and Hope nursed. She couldn’t have gotten much milk. Lily’s breasts are now smaller and mostly empty except for the hard lumps inside, but the fact they were trying and the fact a small amount of milk was visible, makes us hopeful Lily will increase lactation. We are hoping the lumps in her breasts don’t turn into mastitis. A helpful lactation specialist today figured the lumps were the result of plugged milk ducts, and this can sometimes turn into mastitis.

We are so much more optimistic. Yesterday Hope was lethargic—lying around moaning and whining. Today she was playful—interested in objects to manipulate and initiating play with Lily once again. She has life in her eyes and seems almost her old self, although emaciated.

We will continue to bring Hope formula a couple times a day to the extent possible as long as she needs it. Hope has a strong appetite. She has teeth and is beginning to eat solid wild foods, which is normal for her age. This cub is going to make it.

kittenface · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 11:27 am

Such great news these are very special people that are doing this I
sure hope they realize this

Beth · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 12:24 pm

Wonderful news...the village is making a difference (!)

LeeLee · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:54 pm **Posts:** 471

What a great ending to my holiday weekend, to read this news of Hope. I am ecstatic. Does anyone know, how long does Hope need the milk? What beautiful pictures of them together, almost like a parent holding their child over their head, showing them off! I am sooo smitten with our little Hope and even my 5 yr old neice is crazy about her. I am hoping the emotional rollercoaster ride is over now, and Hope can go on with bear cub stuff, like being curious, and playful, and feisty, making those grunting sounds, and shreiks when she doesnt get her way! Thanks for the updates. What a day! :thumbegg:

mwplay · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:15 am **Posts:** 10249

Goat’s Milk Galore

May 31, 2010 – 8:07 PM CDT

We are so relieved to see little Hope doing better. Thanks to you all for help.

Today, Hope got as much formula as she wanted plus grapes, banana chips, and Pedialyte. This morning, the formula was made with canned goat’s milk. This evening, it was made with fresh goat’s milk. A happy family from Wisconsin drove up hundreds of dollars worth of fresh and frozen goat’s milk for Hope—gallons of it. Enough for the duration. Still not as good as real bear milk, but as good as one can do. To the goat’s milk we add; heavy cream, egg yolks, fish oil, olive oil, plain yogurt, calcium carbonate, vitamins B and C. .

More food is coming, and Hope will be increasing her consumption of wild foods. Meal worms are on order plus herbs and hormones to unplug Lily’s milk ducts and stimulate lactation. Lily is being motherly, nurturing, and playful with Hope. Physically and behaviorally, she is not showing any sign of estrus. Each day we are more confident of the outcome. Our goal is to give Hope the best chance of life with Lily in the wild. The expert advice we are getting on rejuvenating Lily’s lactation is to give Hope the best food we can and enough of it to give her strength to nurse vigorously to maximally stimulate lactation. We are encouraged to see Hope take the formula and then nurse vigorously as the experts hoped. Even a little bear milk will make a difference in her health. Our goal is for Lily to again become the main source of nutrition. Today, I thought some of the lumps in Lily’s breasts were softer.

Thank you to the many experts who provided the latest data on dealing with this kind of crisis.

I can hear the critics who think we should have done nothing. That would have meant we would not have found Hope. The likelihood of them finding each other after 5 days apart was practically nil. Hope likely would have died alone and unseen. We wouldn’t have known if she were sick or simply starving.

If we did nothing, we would have learned practically nothing from her disappearance and death. There is much to learn from her life. We already have. And as time goes on, we are narrowing the possibilities of why Lily went on her walkabout.

Thank you for your contributions and help.

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

mwplay · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:15 am **Posts:** 10249

Does it ever end?????

This poor mom & cub need a break

*************************************************************************

Drama in the Woods

May 31, 2010 – 11:15 PM CDT

Lynn handed off the previous update to me just before I headed out to bring Hope her first formula made from the fresh goat’s milk. I wanted to get out to her before dark so I figured the update could wait. I located Lily and Hope at a large aspen tree where they were bedded.

I gave Lily a few nuts to keep her busy while I fed Hope. Hope loved the new formula! She also ate all of the cottage cheese—though I think she was really looking for more of the grapes I had mixed in it.

When Lily finished the nuts she roamed around a bit while Hope was finishing up. Then suddenly Lily came rushing back to the bed tree grunting in concern. Hope leapt for the tree and climbed high. Lily stood up against the tree grunting and looking off into the woods. We were not alone.

At first I wondered if there was a person walking along a nearby trail, and then I heard the grunting of another bear. We think of grunting as a friendly sound – but Lily seemed frightened. I could see another bear approaching in the growing darkness. It was a collared bear but I could not see well enough to identify it. I ran through a few frequencies on the telemetry receiver and found it was Lily’s mother June. Lily ran off huffing.

June followed Lily – still grunting. I could hear thrashing of brush and huffing. I monitored their signals as the strength of both decreased as the bears moved away.

I stayed near Hope’s tree, waiting for Lily to return. When I realized that wasn’t going to happen any time soon, I picked my way out of the woods in the dark and headed back to the field station.

As I write this (11:20 PM) Lily is resting nearly a mile away from the Hope’s tree. June is resting 0.35 miles from Lily and 0.63 miles from Hope. I am thankful for the GPS units that give me these locations.

Hope is alone once more. What does this all mean?

There are those reading this that will condemn me for not staying near Hope’s tree. Suffice it to say that I did what I thought best at the time. I can better monitor Lily and June from here. I feel Hope is safe as long as she stays in the tree. Hope is in an area this time that she is very familiar with – unlike last time when she was left in a totally unfamiliar area. Fortunately Hope had eaten quite a bit before Grandma June showed up.

The rollercoaster ride continues for us all. We could all use a break but it just doesn’t let up.

—Sue Mansfield, Biologist, North American Bear Center

Facebook Update from 6/1/10:

Lily the Black Bear June 1, 2010 - 7:30 AM
I returned to the tree Hope was in last night -- but she is no longer there. Hope has gone missing again. Hopefully she will remain in the general area so we can find her. -- SM

kittenface · **Posted:** Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:52 am

This is nuts can't these 2 get a break? Grandma just had to go and screw things up :roll:

Beth · **Posted:** Tue Jun 01, 2010 12:22 pm

Gosh, I just can't believe this...Thanks for the updates

LeeLee · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:54 pm **Posts:** 471

Are you kidding me? They left Hope alone AGAIN? These people dont deserve other people's hard working money for sure. Are they ****? How many times does Hope have to be left alone? Maybe June is not allowing Lily and her cub into this area or whatever? If Lily is running away from June, what do you think? I am once again DISGUSTED to see them leave Hope alone. It now appears to me that Hope is a by product to them, and their main priority is the collared mom Lily ONLY. Otherwise anyone smart would have stayed with the UNCOLLARED bear cub. They are making me ****. I wouldnt give these people a cent at this point. And these people have degrees in biology? Sorry, but I am so disgusted I cant even believe she left the cub alone for the second time. WHAT DID YOU THINK THE OUTCOME ONCE AGAIN MIGHT BE? "IF she stays in the tree she will be ok" well here is a news flash, she didnt stay in the tree last time, and wont this time either, hello. These people JUST DONT GET IT. They are literally making me **** THEY DONT DESERVE HOPE.

eiguoc · **Posted:** Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:45 pm

Lily the Black Bear
June 1, 2010 - 7:30 AM
I returned to the tree Hope was in last night -- but she is no longer there. Hope has gone missing again. Hopefully she will remain in the general area so we can find her. -- SM7 hours ago

kittenface · **Posted:** Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:48 pm

LeeLee it was 11:30 at night when they left her, they probably couldn't see her or it could have been dangerous withe grandma there they must have a good reason we just have to wait and see now its so hard yes but?

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