Biscuit bounding around
Maureen in all sorts of
enthusiasm for the sunshine
and seeing us.
















Biscuit looking for the last year's salmon where the snow is
melting back. Maureen is
looking at a flock of ducks that
are following us and making
a lot of noise. They seem to
be calibrating the sun as
well









Biscuit eating one of the old
fish she found under the ice.

(Click on any Image to see a higher resolution version)

It was remarkable how both the bears and our spirits lifted when the sun finally came out. This was definitely the longest storm we have ever lived through and who knows, it might not be over yet. This morning is foggy again. If this entry arrives later than the above date it means that the fog lifted and I just had to get out into the summer.

We have spent very little time with Biscuit this year. Occasionally, we've seen her on one of our rain soaked hikes but those encounters were few because there was also usually very poor visibility. When the sun came out we didn't have to look far. She was walking down the creek bank, on her way to the trail that goes to Itelman Bay which is her home most of the time and also where she dens. We grabbed our gear and caught up to her under the cliffs. She was traveling the snow banks along the lake edge, watching for a few old, very ripe salmon that had been dead under the ice all winter and available as the snow and ice melted back towards shore. There must be some food value left in them because several bears were working the shore line.

We could see Biscuit's mood change after we hiked for a while with her. I think it was the same with her as it was for us, reliving old times. This is the fifth spring we have enjoyed these wonderful hikes together. She began to bound around us in her enthusiasm every time she came out of the water. A bit disconcerting at first due to her increased size and our not used to being near her for nearly 10 months. It took her a short time to regain her full trust but within a half hour she began her trick of stepping on my toe as she walked by. She has always only done this with me. She has other more discreet things she does with Maureen and doesn't mix up between us. I have never touch her like I did with Chico because we wanted to separate that one thing so we could understand if it ever created a problem. Biscuit has shown some minor jealousy over Chico's and my added closeness due to my stroking her face and holding paws etc. I think that was where the toe stomping came from. Her way to have some contact. Chico sometimes got carried away with her freedom with me and although she never hurt me, I did almost get knocked into the creek a few times when she got pushy in her playfulness. Again that behavior was never turned on to Maureen, much to her relief. They both never crossed the individual boundaries we set out, which is a remarkable demonstration of memory and understanding of subtle sensitivities, it seems to me.

We were having such a good time we ended up going a mile beyond Itelman Bay, to a big grassy area at the east end of the lake. There was a big male bear wandering around in the meadows and Biscuit showed some interested in him. She seemed to be trying to intercept him (we climbed a small knoll to watch) but she suddenly veered away and headed back to the Bay. If she is going to breed this year she only has a couple more weeks. I keep waffling as to weather I think it is going to happen. She definitely shows some intrigue but I don't understand enough about this behavior to know if hormones are kicking in or not. On our way back, she was grazing high on the mountain side which are turning very green and lush.

Two days ago, I flew to the research station in the afternoon. There has been very little opportunity to fly in the past three weeks. Everyone was standing around outside, enjoying the sun. They have a big crew of workers staying there to rebuild a couple of buildings and they were burning a heap of unsalvageable boards, roofing and what not. The helicopter bringing materials also brought fresh vegetables for us and there was a sockeye salmon netted for me while I stood around and chatted. A light colored bear wondered over to the river and looked both up and down it in what seemed like anticipation of lots of salmon soon. Apparently, their electric fence is still working well. It has changed their lives as far as bear problems are concerned. They have not had to kill a bear for any kind of conflict since we erected it around the village five years ago.

On my return, when I landed in the bay near the cabin, Biscuit was standing beside Maureen at the top of a big snow drift where I was to pull out. I have to power up the steep snow wedge created when a chunk of snow slumps into the lake. This procedure creates a lot of noise. Biscuit turned to run away but Maureen spoke to her and she came back to stand beside her again and watched the plane slide up and out of the water about 30 meters away. (A place almost exactly like the photo of her with the old fish). This was the first visit she had made to the cabin since we got here three weeks ago.

Yesterday morning, I passed by where Biscuit was sleeping along the bank of the creek. I was on the way to the basin to look for Brandy and her cubs. A few hundred meters further on I turned around and saw her running to catch up. Her ears were back, she was running hard at me but her good nature was given away by how she ran. She was continually tossing her head. A bear charging in anger has its ears back and keeps its head still as it runs with an intent look on their face. She followed me for a kilometer then got into the lead as we entered the basin, then stopped to smell the wind coming towards us. When I went on she stayed behind. Coming over a knoll, I found Brandy and her two cubs. The cubs are still shy but are showing signs of accepting us. Brandy would not move as I approached but the cubs ran up into the alders. I stayed with the mother letting them watch how their mom accepted me so near her.

There I'm finished. It is still foggy. I will send it to you on schedule.

- Charlie