Dotti-My Wild Life: It's a boy!!

I can't say that I've ever been "afraid" of black bears, and whatever 'fear' I had diminished more with every 'research update' I read on www.bearstudy.org. I first photographed a bear in a huge tree on the banks of the Delaware River, in 1989. Using my Pentax K-1000 35mm SLR (film) camera was a lot different than todays' digital photography; I was proud of the photograph I snapped and still have it hanging in my home. A few years later, 3 black bears were walking in the woods behind our home and I managed to get a picture of them too, with that same Pentax camera. I'd had occasion to see bears from time to time over the years, but last years appearance of Bud, and later another cub I presumed to be a sister whom we dubbed "Weiser", has provided me with photo opportunities I could only imagine prior to the advent of digital photography. Diligence paid off, when Buddy obliged me with a particular stance, allowing me to see his "tassle", thus confirming his sex.

My husband thought I was crazy, when I suggested that there were two cubs visiting the Hard Rock Diner last summer. He could not believe that I noticed any difference in the mannerisms of the bear(s), suggesting that all bears behaved alike. Of course, I know that bears are as different as humans. As a matter of fact, bears have a lot of commonalities WITH humans, beginning with the vocalizations of cubs. Close your eyes and listen to the cries, and you would swear you were hearing a newborn human child. But I digress, back to the two cubs ... and the husband who thought I'd lost my ever-loving mind. He had to eat his words when both bears showed up at the same time!

Based upon the size of its head and neck, I think the second bear, "Weiser" is a female. She has never obliged me however, with a confirming pose. Identifying her was easier than Buddy, however, because of what I dubbed a "beauty mark" on the bottom of her right eye. Thank goodness for binoculars, and telephoto lenses...

I haven't seen Weiser this year, at least not that I know of. Buddy on the other hand, is exhibiting all the behaviors I've learned to be typical of bears at this time of year. He has begun scent marking his territory, rubbing his back up against the tree that seems to be his favorite spot near the feeding rock. I think he's on the prowl for a female, he should be at the age when first mating might occur. When he's not eating, or scratching ... he's playing, usually with a stick. Seems like every bear I've observed loves to play with sticks!! "Didja get that picture, lady? Can I get on with being a bear now, please??"