Reminiscing..2013 cubs: In this video clip ;I was able to capture a moment where Spruce is: foraging, Survivor - digging at a hollow log, looking for ants and larvae, and Forest teething on a moose antler. My instinctive little bears ; Though they were still being bottle fed/near weaned at this time frame ; they were foraging then, and even well before/prior at a younger cub stage of development too. They soon went into my 5 acres and immediately used their skills = climbing 60/80 feet up into the trees, and canopy, swimming, foraging...2015 update: They are now near 2 years old ,and will be den checked this winter :-) Looking back to March 27,2013..When I received 3 itty bitty cubs weighing (2lbs Survivor)(2½ lbs. Forest)(2½ lbs. Spruce) memories... :o) Oh how they have grown, and developed, explored, and enjoyed life as bears!!! ©Dawn L. Brown Bear cub development, behavior...” Just sharing a bit of data on cubs: SURVIVOR, FOREST & SPRUCE: THESE PARTICULAR CUBS WILL BE DEN RELEASED AS YEARLINGS EVENTIALLY; I THEREFORE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR FOR WHEN THEIR DIET WILL CONSIST OF 100% NATURAL FORAGING SOON; I THEN WILL OBSERVE THEIR DENNING CYCLE; FOR WHEN THEY WILL DECIDE TO DEN-TIME FRAME, AND HAVE THE OPPERTUNITY TO OBSERVE THEM IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF TORPOR. The cubs arrived only weighing 2 to 2 ½ lbs., and even before being weaned from the bottle; they instinctively foraged on natural food sources such as green-up=consisting of dandelion greens, grasses, leaves, and flowers from raspberry, blackberry bushes, Forbes, and other leaves such as-beech, maple, ash..; they too loved to tear into logs ,dig for roots, and flip rocks over for ants and larvae, and as the cubs have developed ;I have witnessed-while observing them in the 3 acres; that they continued to tree at all times during the rain, as every other cub/cubs have done (consistent observation that I have witnessed with all the cubs I have rehabilitated over the years = their senses are not keen during heavy rain, fog, high winds...thus making them feel safe; I believe this Is a safety mechanism in place that cubs instinctively tree during these weather conditions) The cubs have lately been foraging on berries, young acorns, aquatic vegetation around the vernal pool, and digging for roots, ants larvae...I noticed in particular lately they have been tearing the moss off of the ledge, and I believe they are going after small ants; they too are flipping the leaves and mud over near the vernal pool, and certainly have a preference for whatever Is under the leaves. I have observed the cubs getting into bees, and /or flying ants, and have gotten stung/bit, but get over it fairly quickly... The cubs will get separated on occasion on purpose at times, and not on purpose; when a cub gets misplaced not wanting to be; it will vocalize Maw, mow, meow-something like that...and other vocalizations too=the cubs find one another pretty quickly, and seem to play, wrestle ,chase each other, and have some sort of communication with displaying their actions...The cubs do have a pecking order just as previous cubs that I have rehabilitated, and there Is one cub that seems more independent than the other two ,and will separate from the others on occasion, but they always seem to end up back together as a sibling unit. I have an excessive amount of data/ documentation, and video= Averaging between 1 to 3, 4, 5 day intervals of documentation; that I have on my clip board, and In files, and It would simply be too much to put out there for all of you to view; because you probably would get a bit board...The reason I do It, Is because I like to observe repetitive behaviors- so it will eventually give me facts. I too look for why the cubs behave a certain way within their environment and what might be making them display the attributes that distinguishes #s of bears and the differences = why do different bears behave differently on occasion from one another; though they are a family sibling unit at times, and to how bears behave when other bears are introduced. Something All Bear Cubs have exhibited during their developmental stages= prior, during, and after weaning them off of the bottle. Bear development behavior during my care, and rehabilitation methods: 1) Cubs instinctively know how to forage, drink water... 2) Cubs instinctively know how to swim 3) Cubs instinctively know how to climb trees, forage on leaves, acorns, beechnuts... 4)Cubs Instinctively know how to forage on berries, ants, larvae, grasses, Forbes...The key Is to allow them to do it naturally for the most part ;That being if it can be done. I prefer to introduce natural food sources on a small scale=small amount so the bears can instinctively display normal bear attributes such as tasting ,smelling the food sources and recognizing if it Is something they will or will not forage on within that particular landscape. 5)Cubs do have a pecking order ,and often there Is a monarch within the group-the more bears I have In rehabilitation the more there can be visual different animalities=some cubs, and /or yearlings can be more solitaire, some will be more tolerant of one another, but what It comes down to Is that they all revolve their lives around food sources, and during feeding increments; weather or not being supplemented or natural food -If there Is enough to sustain their appetite bears will be happy. 6) Cubs I rehabilitate are able to adapt well; because they are given an opportunity for proper developmental behavior. I simply allow bear cubs to be bears. 7) By placing cubs in a natural habitat and allowing them to instinctively learn it simply allows the cubs to figure out their own advantages, and skills that they naturally have in place. © Dawn L. Brown-Just a tiny bit of cub data: 2013 cubs Survivor, Forest, Spruce: The cubs are doing well, ; I was able to capture a moment where they were resting In a daybed, and they were all curled up with one another, making a- humming, purring, chortling sounds, as if they were nursing; they will still suckle on each others ears every once In a while , and this Is still normal behavior at their stage of development, The cubs are interesting ;because they will do this ,and then be running around and playing, wrestling, having pecking orders, foraging up In the canopy on tiny limbs ;as agile as can be, and will too separate, and be very independent, and behave as if they could concur the word.. Take note: I have had cubs released at this age before/7-8 months, and some have done well living in the wild=different release methods are used for different cub scenarios, taking also into account the natural food sources. Time frame/stage of development at which I receive cubs ,and too what situation they came from; will impact discussion for when I think they are ready for release; while I always monitor their development & behavior during the rehabilitation process to asses data. These cubs tend to be fairly close knit, and though they separate from one another, they end up back to the sibling cub unit. There are times; I will see 2 up in an oak tree and another one up in another tree by itself-this seems to be the norm with sibling sets of cubs, that I have received, and one often will end up being a monarch. Once the cubs grow, and get a bit older, they will become more independent, but get along, and tolerate one another; typically because there are good food sources. I have witnessed pretty intense pecking orders with siblings, and other bears that are introduced into the pen, but bears seem to figure this out, and have some sort of ground for which they stand. I have observed Survivor more than once pushing her pads into the mud/ or dirt as if to leave her markings-need to observe more repetitive behavior as such to be classified as a consistent behavioral pattern that she displays; I have actually witnessed her pushing each side of her body to leave her imprint-the survivor stomp; I believe this may be some sort of gesture- meaning she was there-just to let you know. I too know on warm days the cubs will In most cases take a swim In the pond ,but too stick their pads In the cool mud; because that is one of the only places where they can cool their body temperature+ bears pant to drop their body temp like dogs = they do not sweat. Survivor seems to be the tough cub of the bunch, and that strikes me a bit odd; because she was the smallest, and too had a tougher time, than forest & Spruce -In reference to needing extra immediate care... My guess is she has had to be tough to catch up to her 2 bigger siblings.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 22:54:15 +0000
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