May 20, 2008: Maine-iacs
 

Griff found this site called Crown of Maine.

Seems a team of Maine biologists spend the long Maine winter, tracking radio collared bears, while they are denning for the winter.
Paul Cyr went along with them recently and photographed the fun.

Once the signal leads them to the den site, they dig down through 5 feet of snow and open the den, for a biologist to crawl in.

http://cellar.org/2008/bear1.jpg

After giving the bear a shot, they drag her out and check her weight, measurements and general health.

http://cellar.org/2008/bear2.jpg

They also check the cubs, if there are any.

http://cellar.org/2008/bears3.jpg

After everything is recorded, Mom and cubs get tucked back into the den and it's reburied with snow. They try to do 4 or 5 dens a day.
I think they're nuts, but check out the whole series at the link.

Then in the spring the bear comes to the Cellar to post the strange dreams they had this winter.

And why aren't those cubs sleeping? "Get back to bed, you kids. It's only February!"

Pan sized!:yum:

Bears are soooo cute.

Uh, I guess there's no danger in disrupting their hibernation cycles like that? :eyebrow:

:lol2:

Oh. My. God. It's a two-headed, two-eared, three-eyed, six-legged mutated bear cub! Run for your lives!!! Seriously though, those are some wicked claws, even if they are just little fellers.

I'll name them Chang & Eng. :3eye:

BTW, do I see a teensy little bear penis? I believe I do...

Dat's him belly button.

:lol:

There so lovely when they're so tiny! :joylove:



I just came across this photo of a polar bear playing with sled dogs.
http://www.nastyhobbit.org/forum/pic...-bear-vs-dogs/
I've been corrected. I guess the larger beasts do have enduring moments.

Usually the bears hate being awakened during their long winter nap, and will hungrily attack whatever disturbed them. Especially if a mother bear is protecting a couple of wee ones in a tight space.

This is evidenced in the first photo, which shows half of an ex-researcher being prepared for burial. That's all they could recover from him.
The semi-corpse has been put down into the makeshift snowy grave, while a colleague pays his last respects.

What exactly, did those two videos have to do with the thread topic?

i can only speak for myself. the clip i linked is the video for the song 'maniac' the thread title is 'Maine-iacs'. this is what we call a 'play on words' if you'll say the two quoted words aloud, you'll notice a certain similarity.

also, the song was on the radio at my sick 80's music torture chamber job when i saw the thread title. pleh.

The big Bears cease all activity for months starting in December.
The Cubs report to Mesa, Arizona, for spring training in February.