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Old 03-13-2009, 10:06 PM
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Rockymtnx Rockymtnx is offline
 
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Default Something rare---Bear quintuplets

Something rare---Bear quintuplets

Black bears typically have two cubs; rarely, one or three. In 2007, in northern New Hampshire. a black bear sow gave birth to five healthy young. There were two or three reports of sows with as many as four cubs, but five was, and is, extraordinary. I learned of them shortly after they emerged
from their den and set myself a goal of photographing all five cubs with their mom - no matter how much time and effort was involved. I 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 six weeks, I had that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and photographed them. I used the equivalent of a very fast film speed on my 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...


(Read on..)

I 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, I found still more folks who had seen them,and everything remained OK. I stayed away from the bears as I was concerned that they might become habituated
to me, or to people in general, as approachable friends. This could be dangerous for both man and animal. After Halloween I received no further reports and could only hope the bears survived until they hibernated.
This spring, before the snow disappeared, all six bears came out of their den and wandered the same familiar territory they trekked in the spring of 2007.
I saw them before mid-April and dreamed nightly of taking another family portrait, an improbable second once-in-a-lifetime photograph
On April 25, 2008 I achieved my dream...
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Old 03-13-2009, 10:20 PM
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Wow - yeah that's pretty rare. I've never seen more than 3 cubs.
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Old 03-13-2009, 11:00 PM
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Thats cool, nice to see that they all made it together. Something we may never see again. Great pictures, thanks for sharing.
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Old 03-14-2009, 07:34 AM
BrownBear416 BrownBear416 is offline
 
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Wow Looks like a bear gang....

Thx for posting Rocky.
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Old 03-14-2009, 08:23 AM
deanmc deanmc is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BrownBear416 View Post
Wow Looks like a bear gang....

Thx for posting Rocky.
Lol that is very cool.
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  #6  
Old 03-14-2009, 08:42 AM
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Nice pics. I got them in an email a while ago and the wife thought it was the cutest thing she had ever seen.
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  #7  
Old 03-14-2009, 10:00 AM
Rigg dogg Rigg dogg is offline
 
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Default Bears

Cool pictures!!!!! Have seen 3 cubs before a couple of times, but 5 WOW!!!

They do look like a Gang in that 2nd pic. A gang out looking for trouble
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Old 03-14-2009, 12:55 PM
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BIG DEAL!
...until she can have EIGHT of them and make national headlines its just idle conversation

Id pay money see the person who would a AI a bear sow
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  #9  
Old 03-14-2009, 01:35 PM
AB RANGER 007 AB RANGER 007 is offline
 
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Default Bear Sightings.

A few years back, while out hunting, 1 +- kms South of the ANC road, approximatly, N 50 02.580 W 117 41.837. I observided a Sow Black Bear and 5 cubs cross the road that I was on.(+- 100 meters). Was in my truck, leaving the area.
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Old 03-14-2009, 02:22 PM
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Donny Bear Donny Bear is offline
 
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Incredible never seen or heard of five, Fantastic photos and extra neat to get them a second time.

I saw a Grizz with 4 cubs up by Robb about 10 years back, called F&W all excited the guy is like yah we know, and we are watching them so keep that in mind Kinda poured a bit of rain on my excitement but it was still cool
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Old 03-14-2009, 09:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roger View Post
Id pay money see the person who would a AI a bear sow
I'd pay BIG money to see the guy that would do it the old fashioned way

tm
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  #12  
Old 03-15-2009, 10:56 AM
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Those are pretty cool pics. Amazing too.
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