BLACK BEARS

      Black bears typically have two cubs; rarely, one or three. In 2007, in 
      north Hampshire, a black bear sow gave birth to five healthy young.
     There were two or three reports of sows with as many as 4 cubs,
      but five was, and is, very extraordinary. The photographer learned 
      of them shortly after they emerged from their den and set a goal of 
      photographing all five cubs with their mom - no matter how much time and 
      effort was involved. He knew the trail they followed on a fairly regular 
      basis, usually shortly before dark. After spending nearly four hours a 
      day, seven days a week, for more than six weeks, he had that 
      once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and photographed them. He used the 
      equivalent of a very fast film speed on his digital camera. The print is 
      properly focused and well exposed, with all six bears posing as if they 
      were in a studio for a family portrait.

     The photographer stayed in touch with other people who saw the bears during 
      the summer and into the fall hunting season. All six bears continued to 
      thrive. As time for hibernation approached, he found still more folks 
      who had seen them, and everything remained OK. The photographer stayed 
      away from the bears because he was concerned that they might become 
      habituated to him, or to people in general, and treat them as 
      approachable friends. This could easily become dangerous for both man 
      and animal.

     After Halloween, no further reports and could only hope the bears survived 
      until they hibernated. This spring, just before the snow disappeared, 
      all six bears came out of their den and wandered all over the same 
      familiar territory they trekked in the spring of 2007.

      The photographer saw them before mid-April and dreamed nightly of taking 
      another family portrait, a highly improbable second once-in-a-lifetime 
      photograph. 

      On 25  April 2008, he achieved his dream.

 

Boy, those guys grow up fast!

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