Lily, a 4-year-old wild American Black Bear, is part of the long-term study of black bear ecology and behaviour being conducted by biologist Lynn rogers of the Wildlife Research Institute near Ely, Minnesota. Lily made Internet history when a camera was placed in her den and the birth of her single female cub, Hope, was broadcast live to over 25,000 viewers on January 22, 2010. Hearts melted a a tiniy paw reached out to touch Lily's nose just after the birth. Lily became an ambassador for bears worldwide.

Unfortunately, one cub was not enough to keep Lily from coming into estrus last spring. She abandoned Hope during the May mating season. Five days later, Hope was found and reunited with Lily. When Hope was abandoned a second time, no attempt was made to reunite them. Instead, supplemental food was provided to Hope in the wild until natural foods became available. Lily and Hope reunited on their own later in the summer and have denned together

American black bear normally give birth every 2 years, but Lily was seen with males during last spring's mating season and is likely to be pregnant. If she gives birth in late January, we will have the rare opportunity of observing a mixed age litter, new cubs and a yearling from last year's litter.

To learn more about bears and this bear research visit the North American Bear Center at www.bear.org and the Wildlife Research Institute at www.bearstudy.org.