Bears...The Loss of a Cub...Otis is in The Office

 

273 with her twin cubs...

And checking in with the bears (and bear-folk) while sipping coffee, this morning.

Gully's response to a sub-adult who snatched his spot on the lip of the falls.

"Hey..you're in my spot!!!"

"Ahhh...that's better."

Seeing a lot of pirating and generally grumbling/bad tempers flaring as the salmon continue to be few...although many of the older bears are better at fishing and getting larger by the day...quite a few of the sub-adults and nursing mothers are thin...you can see ribs...and while the cubs nurse, the sows are eating mouthsful of grass.

 Some of the yearlings are becoming quite resourceful.

Sad news, recently, as we watched horrified as another cub (...one of 26's cubs...) was caught up in the swift current of the river. This makes two lost to the river. This one was particularly gruesome as the river washed it against a large boar who killed it instantly on the live cam.

The cub left (...now called Peanut...) looks tiny and a bit lost.

Walker- 151 In a Salmon Coma.

And the comforting sight of 747 (Colbert a.k.a Bear Force One) and his fishing buddy Otis who is in The Office.

And all is right with the world....

Sisters Day...Finnegan's First Month...Ola's Brunch...and The Garden

 

Everything green, happy and growing!

Of course, a garden isn't really a garden without a cat.

"Hey, Mom."  

                   -Finnegan

The feral who has stolen my heart and moved in.

He owns me, now.

He has been here for a month..loves head & ear scritches...also cream gravy, steak, chicken, pulled-pork...oh and the green catnip Temptation treats.

He already runs off any cat who dares come near...threw a pouting fit when I had petted Charlie cat (and he smelled him on me) and ran off a rotund (...we're talking basket-ball with legs) sized raccoon. Chased him as hard as the fat little guy could lope all the way to the tree-line then returned to me like

"See Mom...I saved you from a wild animal!"

And returned quite happy with himself. 

Enjoyed a mid-week Italian Brunch with my friend Ola and her friend Starr...which was very nice.

And then there was John. 

We were both up during the storm at 5 AM, and my guy phoned asking

"Are you up for an adventure????

"Always!!!"

The gist of it being that the little town we like in Illinois has now opened a dispensary...lol.

Seriously.

So, of course...I added

"Well...we will HAVE to get those matching tattoos we are always talking about, too."

So there you have it.

Geriatric pot-tourism and tats.

I feel absolutely rebellious.

(...and no...we won't be bringing anything back across state lines...and I may have to get a lava lamp for the room...)

Eric, Melissa, Heather and The Girls ran around with him at the opening day of the State Fair.

and the rest of the grand's arrived today to enjoy The Children's Museum.

And me...well I'm just hanging out with Finn and relaxing today.

Just started Baldacci's latest book...sipping sweet tea and contemplating a mid-day nap.

You gotta have a plan!

Happy Sunday!

Love,

Carla and Finn

 

 

"No big deal...I face off with wild animals all the time, Mom."   -Gadget

 

Virtual SA: Roatan Island, Honduras Sloth and Monkey Sanctuary

 

Sloths and monkeys and tourists...oh my.

Roatan Island in Honduras is the first stop on this virtual adventure.

Specifically the Sloth and Monkey Sanctuary.

https://youtu.be/fliVb9ZJnYE

https://youtu.be/aiOVbRnc-kw

For 56 USD you can have a complete tour...hang out and hold monkeys and sloths...try the tree-top zip-line...and finish the day with a short snorkeling adventure.

 

 

Zipline

https://youtu.be/faRfZY-PRPY

Beaches

https://youtu.be/UZFozY1a7Qo

Snorkeling

https://youtu.be/GVFahBIAyuE

I hope you have enjoyed today's adventure.

Until next time...

Otis is Back!!!

 

Last night we all breathed a sigh of relief as Otis...late...appeared in The Riffles below the falls...was greeted by 747 (...who is his buddy...) and then took his rightful place in The Office.

The cameraman stayed with him until he caught his first salmon!

A bit thin...but none the worse for wear...words cannot adequately express how wonderful it was to see him return for another season.

In other big bear news...88's persistent stalking of Grazer seems to have paid off...

"Please don't let her kill me, Amen."

And they have mated.

We may have cubs next spring.

Lots of new cubs this year...several sets of twins...some singles and two sets of triplets. 17 now!

Since the salmon run has started they have started filling out a bit.

Some of them...a lot!

The slower salmon run was responsible for quiet a bit of drama earlier, as well.

Hungry bears...especially with cubs...tend to be aggressive bears.

Seeing more moms with babies down by The Falls this year.

And then there was 806 with her cub already nicknamed "Trouble"...who has floated down river...got lost while wandering off...been washed over the falls twice...and then this...

While wandering away (...mom was fishing...) ran right into 821...a large boar who was not in the least amused. In this photo the cub was dangling from his jaws.

Mom immediately opened a can of "whoop ass" on him and he dropped the cub...who fell over the falls and ran.

All morning we waited to see if the little guy made it.

When at last they were reunited...and he was just a little roughed up and a lot less adventurous.

"Now will you STAY in the Nanny Tree???"

 

Ben, 280, whose ears are like headlights.

"Benny, with your ears so bright...won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

                                                                                                          -SANTA

And some of the funny sights you see on the underwater cam...

 "No...I only LOOK like a duck...actually I identify as a salmon."

This morning...

Bears in the Mist.

 

Virtual SA: Honduras (Overview)

 

The name means depths and refers to the bay used for anchorage for centuries. As in "Thank God, we are out of the depths."

Most of the people here are a mixture of Mexican, Indian, Spanish and Black.

Language is mostly Spanish, and religion is primarily Catholic. 

Agriculture is the 2nd largest export...and bananas figure prominently.

...in fact...the term Banana Republic was coined here...

50% of the country's residents are below poverty level. As in many of these Central American countries we have already seen there are vast differences in income...divided sharply between the very wealthy and very poor. A middle class being almost nonexistent.

Population is in excess of 10 million.

Crime is rampant and rates a 3 in tourism (scale means rethink or avoid area) as theft, kidnapping and/or murder is prevalent.

Soups and fruits/vegetables compose a great deal of the diet here.

Meats are added sparingly to rice or soups. Usually chicken or fish.

Despite the warnings...they are trying to establish more tourism here and there is great natural beauty.

...besides...this is virtual...so we are fine...

Come along for our Honduras Adventure!

 

Bring on the Bears!

  

 

What a difference a week makes!

Both the salmon and bears back at Brooks Falls...and making up for lost time.

For some...not a moment too soon.

A few really really skinny.

856 has reasserted himself as the dominant male this year.

747, frankly, does not seem to care.

32 (Chunk) OTOH seems to have lost his bear mind this week-

and seems to be challenging everyone.

747 remained unimpressed and unmovable. When Chunk reared up and walked toward him on two legs 747 stood solidly and looked at him like

"Seriously, Dude???"

When he walked over to 856 and roundly cuffed him...856 immediately reminded him who was boss.

"Now, we aren't going to DO that again...are we???"

Sometimes, it is tough to be a bear.

But the salmon are back, and leaping.

And the bears are back, and catching...

And The Alices are back, waiting not-so-patiently for scraps.

And all is right with The World.

Except that we are all still waiting for Otis to arrive.

He is one of the oldest bears at Brooks Falls...well over 35 and each year there seems to be a collective holding-of-breath until he shows up for another year.

 

Otis last year.

 

                                 ...someday I'm going to paint this shot...

And there has been a little drama already, this year.

When 806's cub...already nicknamed Trouble...went over the Falls.

And some a bit more menacing...

When Bead (910jr cub) decided she was sooooooooooooooooooo hungry and 856 had just caught a large salmon...so she was going to try to join him in his meal.

Lucky for her she thought the better of it.

He would have killed her outright.

903 (Gully) is back. 

Named so...because he catches and eats sea-gulls.

 And, yes, he does sit like Snoopy's vulture.

And now there have been two sets of triplets seen.

Both 901 and 807 having three each this year.

 

Spent a small part of every morning and evening now with the bear-folk...and it is a nice way to begin and end the day!