BS: Watch The Bear

Subject: BS: Watch The Bear
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 09:51 AM

For those who need an alternative to watching the grass grow (which it isn't, except down under) or sitting at the town square watching the paint peel off the historical canon (while it's a bit chilly for sitting on a a park bench), it is reported that we now have a splendid opportunity to watc, via webcam, a hibernating bear.

About the Hibernating Bear Webcam gives the (TV - with brief commercial) news report about this exciting event.

Not only is this young (3 year old) female bear asleep, it is also believed that she is pregnant and may "soon" give birth. The confirmation of her pregnancy appears not to have been confirmed by her OB/GYN, but the spokesperson says "she's old enough so she should be." (The suspense may be unbearable for some.)

The Bearcam link given in the news clip reports as a "broken link" but poking about a bit finds a report that the massive surge in traffic has crashed the server. A link at the reporting site sends you to the real bearcam. (Note that Adobe Flash may be needed, and there is a mike to pick up the sound from the den, but it has a significant "buzz" so you may want to turn the volume down.)

The Other Bearcam link given in the newsclip also reports as "broken" but may (or may not) redirect automatically to the same bearcam.

At my "check visit" there appeared to be a visible patch of black fur, and a few scattered snowflakes. I think I'll check in later when the snow dissipates, as the excitement was perhaps more intense than I can stand for any extended period.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 09:53 AM

The obvious typos above were only because the thrill was intense.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 10:05 AM

As Chet Atkins used to say: I know there are some professionals out there and you will be watching for any mistakes. So from time to time I'll throw one in.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Mr Red
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 10:41 AM

doesn't bear thinking about.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Maryrrf
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 11:10 AM

It was more interesting than I thought it would be. The bear was awake. I thought they were asleep for the entire winter.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 11:23 AM

No, they're awake a good share of the time and we're told that even when they are asleep it tends to be a light one. And in Alaska when the temperature, even in the middle of winter, comes up to above 40 degrees for a few days, bears may get up and amble around.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Genie
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 04:09 PM

Oh, goody! We get to watch a mama bear bearing!

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Genie
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 04:11 PM

I think I heard on one of those Nature shows on TV that bears don't truly "hibernate" in the same sense that reptiles, etc., do.   Their metabolism does slow down some and they sleep a lot but not all through the winter, as Ebbie points out.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 04:20 PM

Well, it will be a little more intense when she gives birth, IF she is preggers. Still interesting if a little overwhelming to the sensitive JohninKS types. Everything in moderation, John, eh?**BG**

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 07:11 PM

Thanks for the link, JOhn.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: open mike
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 09:38 PM

i think they may call it estivation, not hibernation..

i thought this was a thread about whittlesea straw bear!

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Alice
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 10:10 PM

Is there no privacy at all left in the world????

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: open mike
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 10:52 PM

well, at least it's not watch alice or watch laurel

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 08:41 AM

Could this replace Big Brother?

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 03:01 PM

Quite by accident, my most recent look found Lily quite active. Much scratching about, an end-for-end flip inside the den. Rearrangement of the litter inside the den, and she dragged a few bits of fresh stuff in from the rim under the camera (carefully rejecting the twigs).

It appeared that she may be aware of the camera, or at least of the IR light, since on at least three occasions she extended a paw as if trying to block the light. Once she appeared to be trying to lick the glass protecting the lens. (A full-screen shot of her lovely left eyeball was impressive, even at the small scale of the display.)

She did not seem inclined to leave the den but appeared to have some itchies out of sight of the camera to which whe was attending when I left.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: open mike
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 09:35 PM

so is she visible night and day? when i tried to go there i got a page that had a still image of a big bear and 3 little ones. Probably not current? (i did not see goldilocks any where in sight)

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Alice
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 11:00 PM

That was interesting watching Lily turn around and then start licking the area of the camera lens.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 01:13 AM

open mike -

The picture of the bear with cubs is just a filler that displays while the "live" camera loads. If you wait for the load, it should switch to the webcam. I get about a ten to 20 second delay with my DSL connection, but it might take longer with a slower hookup.

You'll most likely see a patch of black fur that "breaths" at about 10 seconds per breath, with perhaps a few snow flakes and some litter on the ledge near the camera. With luck you might catch some activity, but Lily is, after all, attempting to take a long nap.

A note at the front page does indicate that you need to have Flash installed and enabled to get the webcam video. If you don't have Flash it might just sit on the front page. There are also a few popup/popover ads that probably are needed to pay the bills, so a very restrictive popup blocker might interfere. (The ads I've seen aren't particularly intrusive.)

John

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 10:07 PM

I watched Lily for about 10 minutes just now. She licked a foot and scratched her belly, inspected the rim of her abode; bored out of her gourd, I would surmise. :)

Does anyone have an idea as to whether that loud buzz is at the den site? Could that be why she paws at the camera?

After 10 minutes she's getting sleepy again. Last night I watched her breathe while she slept. It wasn't hard to match my breaths to hers; they are slow but not inordinately so.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Little Hawk
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 01:44 PM

I was quite surprised when she held up the "Vote for Chongo in 2012" sign in front of the camera. I didn't think the APP had much support among black bears.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 02:17 PM

When he wakes, you do not need to outrun the bear.
You only need to outrun the slowest runner.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Little Hawk
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 02:23 PM

That's true. That's why it's best to visit the bear in groups rather than alone. The larger the group, the better your odds of survival.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Ebbie
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 05:09 PM

Ha. I'm not convinced that bears can count.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Little Hawk
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 05:30 PM

It doesn't matter if the bear can count. The vital thing is that you be faster than someone else in the group visiting the bear...and the odds of that will probably improve in a larger group.

You see, the average bear gets distracted by grabbing and mauling ONE human being. It occupies the bear for some time and satisfies the bear's need to express his annoyance. While that is occurring, the other people can escape.

This doesn't work if you visit the bear alone.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Ebbie
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 05:37 PM

Ah, but if you are alone you are not as apt to get in trouble in the first place.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Little Hawk
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 05:56 PM

That may well be so. I would not wake the bear up if I were alone. I wouldn't even go anywhere near the bear.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Ebbie
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 10:10 PM

In Alaska you needn't go anywhere in order to have a close encounter with a bear. Has happened to me more than once. We say, here, that it's not wise to surprise a bear- the obverse is also true. T'ain't nice to surprise a human!

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Genie
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 01:40 AM

Licking the cam lens?

Hey, bears are omnivores.   If she gets hungry enough, might that include high-tech gadgets?

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: ClaireBear
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 11:22 PM

Lily's in labor tonight, so the experts say. Yesterday she pulled soft branches in and lined her den with them...cubs soon!

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Alice
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 11:38 PM

Aww, just watching Lily... and thought I saw a cub in there, but then she turned around and scratched and don't see it now.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: ClaireBear
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 11:40 PM

She seems to be pushing sometimes, and it looks like she is sitting in classic birthing position.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Alice
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 11:41 PM

Lily looked like she was having contractions.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 07:14 AM

One of Lily's researchers is a friend of mine, so I've been watching Lily for some time. How amazing to see how the interest has ramped up. Even ABC covered the news, apparently. No cubs yet, as far as I can see.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 12:39 PM

Pleased to announce the birth of at least one cub 01/21/10!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 05:17 PM

Oops- 01/22/2010

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 06:10 PM

Animaterra -

I'm not sure about the birth date.

The note that gives the time of birth at 11 something am (CDT) says "posted 4 hours ago" but doesn't say on what day. That note still was the last post when I looked again sometime before I bedded down, at least two or three hours later. A new post, that was not present at my first or second previous looks, some 6 hours after the first look, said "posted four hours ago" but again with no date. Several hours after my first two looks, another post had been added, stating that it was "posted 2 hours ago." The last post could not have been there less than 6 hours after the original "4 hours ago post" although the "hours ago" for the first two posts had not changed.

One or two posts later, the 22 Jan date is indicated for a new post, and does state that 22 Jan is the date of the "update," without reference to whether it was the same day as the birth.

I guess I'll have to wait for the Public Records Department to issue the birth certificate.

(I'm sure the above is lucidly clear although I'm not really sure that I could replicate what it says if forced to do it again, so read it carefully and don't ask for explanations.)

John

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 08:49 PM

Certificate arrived!

A link to a YouTube clip purportedly showing "the birth" of the first cub has been posted. The 4.5 minute clip shows the same black fur, with snowflakes, as before, but moving around some. Most of the "action" seems to be just off the field of view of the camera.

For the clip, turning sound up would be recommended, as the noises made by the cub are for the most part more informative than what can be seen.

The "title" at the movie does confirm the birth occured on 22 Jan.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Alice
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 09:14 PM

Mama bear now is keeping her back to the camera, covering the cub, and being so still that you have to wait for a big breath to see any movement.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: ClaireBear
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 09:26 PM

Definitely today, exactly 10 minutes after I gave up on my vigil, shut off the computer and headed off for work. Rats! The YouTube is grand, but I wanted to be there then, ya know?

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Alice
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 11:25 PM

If you turn the volume up, you can HEAR the cub right now!!

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Alice
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 11:27 PM

Sounds like a little piglet squealing.

Mama just turned and banged her back hard against the log and shook the camera.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Alice
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 11:29 PM

I saw the cub!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Alice
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 12:35 PM

You can see and hear the cub on the video right now.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: open mike
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 05:02 AM

the cub has been named Hope.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: open mike
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 08:15 PM

the cub's eyes may be open now...

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: open mike
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 05:07 PM

the bears are active in the den today...
Hope is making little noises...
they may be venturing out soon..
there is a face book page for lily the black bear
http://www.facebook.com/lily.the.black.bear

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: open mike
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 05:22 PM

Mamma Lily has left the baby cub alone in the den 6 times now....
it is good to be able to hear the baby "talking" if i ever hear
this in the wild, i will make sure i am not between the mom and cub!

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 08:48 AM

Such cams can be addictive!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: open mike
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 11:53 PM

yes, you warned us Charlie!
the bear did this,
the bear did that...

Subject: RE: BS: Watch The Bear
From: Little Hawk
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 04:12 PM

That's not a bear. It's an extreme closeup of a sleeping black hamster. A fat one, I might add.

;-)