Black bears typically have two cubs; rarely, one or three. In 2007, in northern New Hampshire a black bear Sow gave birth to a family of five healthy young.
A guy named Tom Sears learned of them shortly after they emerged from their den, and set himself the goal of photographing all five cubs with their mom.
After spend nearly four hours a day, seven days a week, for more than six weeks, he managed to get this fantastic photograph:
He stayed in touch with the family throughout the summer, but after Halloween received no further reports the bears survived until hibernation.
Then in the Spring of 2008, 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.
Tom dreamed of taking another family portrait. On 25 April 2008, he achieved that dream. The result is this second picture of the family.
When something as magical as this happens between man and animal, Native Americans say, "We have walked together in the shadow of a rainbow."It is Tom's wish that his exhilarating photos are passed on. I am very happy to do this through the pages of the Blankney Journal.
