I took this photo two years ago of a Shenandoah National Park Black Bear, female yearling. I had first met her the previous spring with her mother, sister and brother and I spent a lot of time with them over the course of that 12 months. The day I took this photo was one of the last times I saw the family intact before mom "booted" the yearlings a couple weeks later so that she could mate again and have new cubs.
This female remained in her natal territory for the following two years and I was able to watch her grow up. Females usually have their first cubs at either three or four years of age, so being three I was hopeful she would have cubs this year. When she was first sighted without cubs, I knew she would be having them next year instead.
Just a week later this precious being with a life ahead of her unfairly had her time here on Planet Earth end. A couple of weeks ago my friend and fellow SNP Bear Enthusiast/Advocate Denise found her dead on the side of Skyline Drive. She was hit by a car overnight and we can only assume it was a speeder.
She was a very special Bear and will be missed...... On the bright side, her sister did have cubs at three years old and is raising her first two cubbies this year! We can only hope that they live long, happy lives, and they will......if people PLEASE SLOW DOWN!
RIP...
This female remained in her natal territory for the following two years and I was able to watch her grow up. Females usually have their first cubs at either three or four years of age, so being three I was hopeful she would have cubs this year. When she was first sighted without cubs, I knew she would be having them next year instead.
Just a week later this precious being with a life ahead of her unfairly had her time here on Planet Earth end. A couple of weeks ago my friend and fellow SNP Bear Enthusiast/Advocate Denise found her dead on the side of Skyline Drive. She was hit by a car overnight and we can only assume it was a speeder.
She was a very special Bear and will be missed...... On the bright side, her sister did have cubs at three years old and is raising her first two cubbies this year! We can only hope that they live long, happy lives, and they will......if people PLEASE SLOW DOWN!
RIP...
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