Got an invite from a buddy of mine in the DNR to tag along on a bear den survey. I jumped at the chance. I love bears and this was a special opportunity that not many folks will have.
Gearing up, getting a bead on the bear's location via vhf collar, setting up the tranquilizer, etc.
We had a relatively short hike by WV standards... just up the side of a mountain about a quarter mile.
We stalked up silently and identified the den site. She was in the rootball of a fallen tree, on a comparatively warm south facing slope, oriented such that the cold north winds would blow opposite the opening. She's a pretty smart gal.
I stayed at a reasonable distance while the dart gun was readied... It reminded me of the old Mutual of Omaha shows I watched as a kid... While Jim wrestles with the crocodile, I remain in the safety of the Jeep...
The shot was true and found the neck of this nine year old sow in her winter den
Colin grabbed her ear several minutes later to reposition her head and she rared up, growled and bared her teeth. "We'll give her another minute" he said.
Down she finally went, with a bad case of the shakes, but was out like a light.
We got a weight on her (190 lbs). She's probably lost 30-40 lbs over winter. Checked her tattoo... got her a new ear tag and checked her radio collar.
She had three cubs, estimated birthdate of January 20 of this year, each about 4 lbs. Two females and a male. After she went down, my boy and my buddy's two sons were allowed to climb the hill and participate.
It was a cold 26 degree morning, so the cubs pretty well snuggled in to stay warm with anyone that was willing, even this grizzly old male.
It didn't take long, we stuffed her back in her nice warm den, snuggled the little ones in, and hiked back out. We slathered the little ones with Vick's Vap-o-rub to mask our smell.
Apparently, she'll wake up none the wiser.
Gearing up, getting a bead on the bear's location via vhf collar, setting up the tranquilizer, etc.
We had a relatively short hike by WV standards... just up the side of a mountain about a quarter mile.
We stalked up silently and identified the den site. She was in the rootball of a fallen tree, on a comparatively warm south facing slope, oriented such that the cold north winds would blow opposite the opening. She's a pretty smart gal.
I stayed at a reasonable distance while the dart gun was readied... It reminded me of the old Mutual of Omaha shows I watched as a kid... While Jim wrestles with the crocodile, I remain in the safety of the Jeep...
The shot was true and found the neck of this nine year old sow in her winter den
Colin grabbed her ear several minutes later to reposition her head and she rared up, growled and bared her teeth. "We'll give her another minute" he said.
Down she finally went, with a bad case of the shakes, but was out like a light.
We got a weight on her (190 lbs). She's probably lost 30-40 lbs over winter. Checked her tattoo... got her a new ear tag and checked her radio collar.
She had three cubs, estimated birthdate of January 20 of this year, each about 4 lbs. Two females and a male. After she went down, my boy and my buddy's two sons were allowed to climb the hill and participate.
It was a cold 26 degree morning, so the cubs pretty well snuggled in to stay warm with anyone that was willing, even this grizzly old male.
It didn't take long, we stuffed her back in her nice warm den, snuggled the little ones in, and hiked back out. We slathered the little ones with Vick's Vap-o-rub to mask our smell.
Apparently, she'll wake up none the wiser.
