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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Unexpected Guests

The resident black bears in our neck of the woods didn't have any cubs this year. But, we've had more than one sow bring cubs into our area during this period of fattening up by eating non-stop ("hyperphagia" - usually July and August, here). During this phase, mother bears, who have exceptionally high calorie needs, will go outside their normal territories in search of food.

This sow, who I haven't seen before, appeared by a bear tree a couple of weeks ago. One of her cubs was right next to her. It's amazing how different their coat colors are - I guess this cub looks like his/her father!
As mom kept walking, the first cub climbed the tree that has been marked by so many bears over the years.
As the black cub descended from the tree, a cinnamon-brown cub, whose coat resembled his mother's coat, moved into the picture. This cub had obviously been trailing behind his mom and sibling.
The black cub hustled to catch up with his mom but the cinnamon one explored a little. He sniffed a small aspen sapling.
Then, he sniffed a rock in front of the bear tree.
Finally, to my surprise, he tried to mark the bear tree like a big bear does!
Soon after marking the tree, he sprinted away to catch up with his family! I'm hoping that this family stays in the area for a little while, perhaps stopping to play in the spring where last year's cubs played so much! I can't wait to find out what happens!

21 comments:

  1. They sure do bring the smiles with them!

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  2. The little cinnamon one is such a pretty baby. We always love seeing your bears!

    Hugs,
    Lily Belle & Muffin

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  3. So cute how they instinctively know to stay with mom. Do they hibernate too?
    Lily & Edward

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  4. So cute. And learning to be a BIG bear...BOL!

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  5. The cubs are so cute. If we had a camera catching those kinds of pics we would accomplish nothing else!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley
    Mayorz For All Paws

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  6. So cute!! It looks like the brown cub is posing for your trail camera!
    Smileys!
    Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo

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  7. The bears are so cute!! I think your trail cameras are so neat!!

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  8. What fun!! I hope they hang around, too!!

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  9. How exciting!!I can't wait to see if they stay around, I hope they will, I so enjoy their photos!

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  10. So much fun to see your trail camera captures! I'm keeping an eye out when i walk the trail in the early mornings. Yesterday, I was startled by a deer!

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  11. The black cub looks too big to be playing in that slender tree! They are so cute ☺

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  12. Awesome shots. How cute the little guy had to climb the tree.

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  13. Wow, didn't know there were different colored bear cubs! I like the little guy in the tree!

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  14. How qute they are. Hope you will Catch them again. Very interesting whats up with them.

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  15. I wonder if the "scout" is a girl and the "marker" is a boy. Hope you'll see them all again, KB!

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  16. My goodness these are amazing photos! Love the cinnamon color. So cute that one climbed the tree while the other wanted to mark it.

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