~Living a life of sophisticated domestication deep in the heart of Texas~

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

While there's life, there's Hope....

Maybe you've heard all about Baby Bear Hope, alone and lost in the Minnesota North Woods over this past weekend.  She and her mother Lily became separated when Lily went to investigate some tracks.  By the time she returned for her cub, 50 hours had passed, and Hope was nowhere to be found.  A torrential rain complicated matters, and it seemed like Hope was lost, until a cub was spotted by a homeowner who lived near the area.  The cub got away, but a search was on, while the world waited and prayed (on Facebook!)  Later, Hope was spotted in a cedar tree, and it has since been reported that she was rescued, stowed away in a pet carrier and returned to her mother! 

I haven't seen the video yet, but you can bet I'll stay up to watch it. All of this has been rather heart-wrenching, thinking about Lily, discouraged and confused, how it must have been for Hope to find herself alone for so long. I can't even begin to imagine how those who were searching felt when they finally discovered little Hope in that cedar tree. Wow.




Talk about a happy ending...which is actually pending, but I'm betting that these two bears will sleep in and awaken with a sense that all is right with their world...


Shawn
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photos borrowed from Lily The Black Bear fan photos on Facebook, Crys Davis, Sarah Peterson Dykstra
"Lily the Black Bear is part of a long-term research project run by the North American Bear Center (http://bear.org) and the Wildlife Research Institute (http://bearstudy.org) out of Ely, Minnesota."

4 comments:

Shawn and SGTex said...

As of today, it's been reported that Hope has become listless. Lily's milk seems to be drying up, and Hope was examined and found to be emaciated. It's very worrisome, and Lynn and Sue, the biologists are seeking help for the bears. Very worried at this sad news...

Shawn and SGTex said...

Hope is doing better, having been fed the sweetened condensed milk on the 29th and now has had 2 feedings w/formula that is more to her liking...includes nutrients that will help her get her "zip" back. See the website for updates. She's super cute!

Shawn and SGTex said...

This morning's report on Hope is that she's actually nursing a little bit (which is good for Lily) and she's eager for the formula. Things are improving!

Shawn and SGTex said...

Hope went missing again, was spotted this afternoon and when they came to capture her w/food and cage, she'd disappeared! Nerve-wracking, to say the least. She is such a tiny bear and needs her mother....this is too much! (I am a wreck, yes, I am.)