Black Bears - Minnesota / Lucky & Honey

[The Peregrine Chick]

Here's the link to the Bear Institute's website - the Lucky-Honey-Cam is not up yet, but the links to all the cams are on the top menu.

http://www.bear.org/website/

And if you haven't watched the video of June digging a den, its worth the couple of minutes - and watch the bottom of the video, they have added short comments on what she is doing as she's doing it from time to time.

http://www.bear.org/website/bear-pages/black-bear/hibernation/20-digging-a-den.html

[Kinderchick]

Lucky & Honey's Den cam is expected to be up and running early next week. In the meantime, some interesting observations from the wesite...

Everything takes longer than one would think.  Little details, etc.  We suspect the Honey and Lucky Den Cam will be up Monday or Tuesday.  At our end we are seeing interesting interactions that we wish we were all seeing together.  Sometimes Honey gets tense and clacks her jaws.  Lucky whines in submission and stays as far away as he can get.  Honey came close with an open-mouth threat.  Lucky moaned and whined.  No contact.  Then Honey settled down and slept.  Why would she choose to move in with Lucky if she was going to be tense about it?  How could she be so welcoming 3 years ago and snuggle with Lucky and now be so tense and distant?  Will this change over winter?  It is rare for wild bears to den together—even orphaned littermates—but it has been reported.  We wonder how those bears got along.  It will be interesting.  They are together of Honey’s own choosing.  The door is open and either could leave, but they are sticking it out through thick and thin—just like some people.

[Kinderchick]

If Honey and Lucky have kids they just have to be named Winnie and Pooh  

LOL, TPC! Good one!  

[The Peregrine Chick]

If Honey and Lucky have kids they just have to be named Winnie and Pooh  

[susha]

Thanks for this, KC!  I keep forgetting to check this site, or at least don't check it often, as there are always so many interesting videos to watch and there's never enough time!

[Kinderchick]

Well, it seems as if Lucky got lucky and has found himself a gal pal by the name of Honey. Apparently, Lucky was somewhat interested in Honey about a year ago but she kept giving him the cold shoulder by "chasing him away and blowing and clacking her jaws"! So last winter, Lucky moved in with his buddy, old Ted.

This winter, however, both Ted and Lucky each found themselves cozy individual dens of their own. Then, much to everyone's surprise, Honey moved in with Lucky about 2 weeks ago. Now, they seem to be "co-existing peacefully" and a den cam is in the works. It should be up and running sometime in the next day or two.

Here is a preview video, with a whole lot of snoring going on...LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxSFy-Y37sk