March 2010 Cub Update: They Grow Up So Fast!
See video of mother and cubs, and photos of mother and father. | 
Watch the cub cam.
Now that our two Andean bear cubs have passed the two-month mark, you can anticipate seeing some changes when watching the web cam.
Both cubs are walking quite confidently now. Even though they look a bit unstable, looks—in this case—are deceiving. On camera it appears as though their nest has a nice, even surface. In reality, though, the nest is composed of mounds of hay. So if the cubs look a bit shaky when you see them walk, don’t worry! By all appearances they are quite strong and developmentally on target. They only look a bit wobbly because navigating the nest provides quite a challenge for little legs.
Their mother, Billie Jean (B.J.) is supplied with hay in the neighboring den several times a week. She often chooses to drag or carry it back into the cubbing den, so any hay that has become broken down is replenished.
Why Hay?
Why do we provide mounds of hay? It serves a dual purpose. First, it helps keep the cubs warm by trapping heat around them. Their mother frequently covers them with hay, and the cubs nestle in it, allowing the hay to work like a blanket. Also, the hollow structure of the hay pieces, as well as the way they intertwine, create pockets of warmth so that heat from the heat panel above is retained and surrounds the cubs.
The other purpose that hay serves is protection. We all know that the cubs are perfectly safe and that there are no predators inside the bear building, but Billie Jean doesn’t know that. She covers the cubs with hay to hide them from potential predators, and also to try to keep them from leaving the den... although she’s quickly losing that battle!
A Classic Mother-Child Power Struggle
While the cubs have a safe environment here at the Zoo, in the wild the real danger begins when they begin leaving the den. For this reason, mother bears usually try to keep their cubs within the safety of the cubbing den for as long as possible. But for any of you who have toddlers at home, you know that what you want and what your progeny wants are often two different things! When you watch the cub cam this month, you will likely see a classic mother-child power struggle ensuing.
No Strollers for Bears
The cubs are becoming quite adventurous and set on leaving the den to play and explore. Their mother, however, is doing everything in her power to discourage this with whatever means necessary. Unlike a human mother, B.J., doesn’t have the advantages of strollers and baby slings. So she has to drag or carry the cubs back into the den using her paws, her mouth, or both! It is quite common for mother bears to carry their cubs in their mouths, but picking up a squirming, complaining bear cub is no easy feat. You may see B.J. carry a cub by its ear, tail, or leg. This is all normal and not a cause for concern. Billie Jean is a great mother with strong maternal instincts; her interactions with the cubs won’t hurt them, even if it looks rough to you and me.
A Den Within a Den
You may have noticed that the cubs are sometimes alone in the cubbing den and their mother is nowhere to been seen. This is because the cubbing den, where the camera is located, is a small structure within a much larger den. The larger den connects to another den where B.J.’s food supply is located and replenished daily. You may have seen B.J. enter the neighboring den through a door that is visible in the upper right corner of the picture.
If B.J. chooses to leave the inner cubbing den for food, water, or a bit of attention from the keepers, she may often be off camera for much of the time that she's out of the cubbing den. Like wild mother bears, she usually chooses to do this at a time when the cubs are quiet and settled and thus not inclined to leave the cubbing den in her absence.
It won’t be long, however, before they will begin following her out of the cubbing den, trying out her food, and exploring their environment with her or even on their own. At such times, they, too, may be off camera. So remember, if you don’t see one or both cubs, it’s only because they’re growing up!
