A 3-year-old bear in Minnesota has given birth to two cubs before an Internet audience.
Lynn Rogers of the Wildlife Research Institute, affiliated with North American Bear Center, said in a news release that Jewel gave birth in a den near Ely to the first cub at 7:22 a.m. Sunday, and a second at 8:40.
It's not the first time Rogers and his colleagues have monitored hibernating pregnant black bears.
In 2010, they recorded the birth of a bear named Hope in 2010. A Hunter killed Hope last year.
Jewel is the younger sister of Hope's mother, Lily.
Lily also gave birth last year to two cubs named Faith and Jason.
Black bears, whose scientific name is Ursus americanus, are solitary animals most commonly found in forests. Despite their name, not all black bears are black. They can be brown, blond, bliush-gray, or even creamy white, according to the National Museum of Natural History website.
Female black bears give birth to two or three cubs in mid-winter, according to National Geographic. The cubs are blind and helpless at birth and stay with their mother for about two years.
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12 minutes of wonder so far! is the voice popping to get the cub used to 'mom as she cleans her? and the little voice getting the air going? circulating? i always wondered what the home was like on the inside-wonder what got her to turn around maybe something moving by the entry because of the moment ? is good to learn the activity , as well as being such a joy ! thank you =) i have my nite watch planned for this eve !