Alice's two cubs pause from wrestling on a second growth Douglas fir branch on
Whistler Mountain's north slope. Alice is the most recent resident female
re-sighted this spring to bring the (re-checked) bear family count to 19 adult
females and 37 offspring (20 cubs, 17 yearlings). A two-year (2005-06) bumper
berry crop and good survival rate of maturing daughters is responsible for the
boost in cub production and survival. Litter sizes are yet to be confirmed for
an additional four mothers. Whistler needs to prepare for high juvenile bear
abundance over the next two years. Please ensure garbage, recycling, and bird
feeders are kept secure, away from bears and don't overflow garbage/recycling
containers. Bear sighting data is collected by Mike Allen as part of the
Whistler Bear Identity Project (WBID 2007).
