Tourists aboard the Inside Passage got a pleasant surprise when they saw a mama bear, Blondie, out and about for the second time this season with her triplets.
The boat voyaged to Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary B次元官网网址� the largest enclosed grizzly bear refuge in the world B次元官网网址� less than a two hour boat ride north of Prince Rupert, on Thursday, July 4.
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| (Jenna Cocullo / The Northern View) |
This is BlondieB次元官网网址檚 second set of triplets and the first time in 13 years the sanctuary has seen a healthy and safe sibling trio, according to Reinelda Sankey, a seven-year tour guide on the Inside Passage run by Prince Rupert Adventure Tours.
B次元官网网址淲e are so excited to see how they have grown,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his is only the second time she came out of hiding this season.B次元官网网址�
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Grizzly bears can have up to five cubs at once, although that is quite rare, with most having one or two cubs per pregnancy, Sankey explained to passengers.
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Blondie was part of the trio born in the sanctuary thirteen years ago. Three years ago she gave birth to her own triplet cubs, but they were sadly killed by a male bear hoping Blondie would go into heat for the mating season.
Sankey explained that when a mother bear gives birth, their bodies will not go into heat until they are done breast feeding their cubs. Two seasons ago B次元官网网址� May until August B次元官网网址� the crew noticed that Blondie would have one less cub by her side as each month went by.
B次元官网网址淏ut this time around we think she is learning from the past,B次元官网网址� said Sankey. B次元官网网址淪he came out much later in the season and we are excited to see that they are safe and healthy.B次元官网网址�
| (Jenna Cocullo / The Northern View) |
Sankey said the rangers, whom they frequently get their updates from, have not yet named the baby cubs.
BlondieB次元官网网址檚 babies are only one-and-a-half years old. When they are old enough they will wander off on their own to start their own families in the sanctuary.
Blondie gave birth to her first born less than eight years ago, Big Ears, who is still hiding away from the open shores of the sanctuary to avoid the larger male bears that will sometimes attack adults who are not yet fully grown.
| Mama bear, Blondie, gave birth to triplet cubs 1.5 years ago. They are the first healthy and safe trio to survive in Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary in 13 years, after Blondie's first set of triplets were killed by a male bear hoping she would go in heat. (Jenna Cocullo / The Northern View) |
Jenna Cocullo | Journalist
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