06/10/2026
This is Thimble.
Three panoramics, three frames each, of three incredible bears.
This is a first time grizzly bear mother known in the region as "Thimble" (she has a research number as well). She showed up with her brand new cubs in 2024, making these two mischievous sidekicks around 2.5 years old.
Most grizzly bear moms will wean their cubs at this age, but she showed no interest in pushing them off. There's a few reasons she might keep her cubs longer.
1 - She's new to the motherhood game - inexperience in weaning cubs may be slowing her down.
2 - She's might find comfort in having her larger cubs around. Thimble isn't a particularly large bear and so the "silhouette" of three bears may help her in stressful situations with other bears.
3 - She may have already tried and failed. Sometimes the vigor of the cubs makes weaning / breaking apart the family group extremely challenging.
And probably more possibilities. Ultimately, Thimble needs to decide when they have to go!
These photos were taken during my Spring Bears in Focus Photo Week at between May 27 and June 1. I'll be heading back again next spring for more.
