Long before Mink became famous, naturalist Mary Holland had the privilege of accidentally encountering and spending time with this enchanting bear. Named after the nearby Mink Brook tributary to the Connecticut River, Mink was beautiful and courageous, having spent most of her 30 years at the mercy of humans whose ultimate decisions guided her destiny until her untimely death in August 2020. During the time we came to know her, she not only exhibited her charisma as an individual but, also her goodness as a mother, leaving behind many offspring, several of whom continue to live in the Hanover/Lebanon area.

Seen often about town or its outskirts, this black bear became a local symbol of confidence and strength, agility and authority. She modeled the kind of perseverance and courage we long for in this dystopian age. Her fearless year-long return journey from the edge of Canada to Hanover as a result of relocation in 2018 became her trademark, the vehicle by which she stood her ground. Through woods, across highways and rivers, in the rain and snow, Mink never gave up her drive to return home. And so, her arrival in the spring of 2019 brought more press, fame and fortune. After all, it not only gave her the comfort of a familiar place but also three new cubs.

She thrived for awhile, photographed and videotaped by local residents who shared their delight in having her home again. But it was not to last. In a busy, bustling area filled with garbage dumpsters, she was bound to face danger – similar, ironically, to the one she unwittingly tackled as a youngster, nibbling on human food handed to her on a daily basis, assuring a lifelong pattern of need that she would pass to at least one set of cubs.

In essence, this magnificent creature was a hostage of human culture, her ability to survive bombarded by the people who ultimately were the conduit of her fate. She became a zoo-like curiosity, even though she was simply a bear whose life sadly had morphed to adhere to the mores of her human neighbors.

She is at peace now and euphemistically back where she belongs, where Holland first met her, isolated from human interruption amidst the coniferous and deciduous forests where she can forage on acorns, tree nuts, and berries to her heart’s content.

Proceeds from writing these articles will be donated to the Kilham Bear Center in Lyme, NH.

First Encounter: The Magic of Mink

by Mary Holland

It was early April, and, although it was melting fast, snow was still on the ground. Friends had alerted me to the fact that the bears that regularly were seen in their back yard had appeared after a winter of being absent. Hibernation had come to an end for Mink, their frequent visitor, and her family. The year was 2017, and I had caught an occasional glimpse of Mink in years past and photographed her at a distance. I knew more than to count on seeing her family when I was spending just a few hours in the middle of the day, where she had been recently spotted. My hope that morning was simply to find some good tracks and photograph them.

I arrived and headed into the woods where I soon encountered multiple black bear tracks, some large, most a bit smaller. With camera and tripod in hand, I decided to follow the tracks to see if I could find the perfect print as well as where they led me and what they told me about the bears’ activity. After I had followed them a relatively short distance, I came to a very large white pine tree that was surrounded by bear scat. Lots of bear scat.

The saplings in the vicinity of this tree had all been chewed on, scratched, broken and bent. Bear hair was evident on many of them. At the base of the white pine there were several shallow indentations roughly four to five feet wide. I was thrilled to have found what I knew must be the location where this family of bears spent a considerable amount of time. The tree had to be a “babysitter” tree – a place of refuge and rest for the bears. When a mother bear goes foraging, or when danger threatens, she sends her offspring up this tree and they remain there until she signals them that they may come down. Much of a bear family’s time is spent in the vicinity of such a tree.

Although my day had already been made by this discovery, I continued to follow the tracks, more in hopes of learning about bear behavior than actually seeing the bears, although that was always in the back of my mind. After an hour or so I decided to turn around and retrace my steps as I headed home. As I neared the babysitter tree, I looked and there, at its base, was a large pile of furry black bodies all huddled together, fast asleep. During my absence, Mink and her three yearlings had returned to the site and decided to take a nap. It probably hadn’t been many days since they emerged from their den, and they were resting.

I immediately set up my tripod and camera, not quite believing I had been presented with this amazing opportunity. Within a short amount of time, they all woke up, and, while they were very aware of my presence, they seemed unperturbed. As they watched, I slowly moved as close to them as I felt was in my best interest. Mink let me know exactly how close that was. Soon the cubs became active and engaged in all kinds of fun and games with each other and with their surroundings. Mink passively observed their behavior as they “boxed” with each other while standing on their hind feet, wrestled on the ground, chewed on all matter of things, from branches to acorns, climbed on their mother, and last but not least, investigated the human who had invited herself into their territory.

Although every encounter I had had with black bears until then had confirmed that they are far more afraid of humans than humans are of them, these bears had been raised near houses, and were somewhat acclimated to the two-legged creatures – so much so that I repeatedly had to discourage one of the cubs from getting too close to me for fear that I was pressing my luck with Mink’s parental tolerance. I knew that I had succeeded in proving my good will toward them when Mink lay down, rested her head and back against the pine tree, and invited all three cubs to nurse.

Never have I felt so privileged to witness wildlife behavior. Of all the experiences I’ve had with wild animals, this is by far the most memorable. Little did I know when I headed out to photograph bear tracks that morning that I would have the most intimate wildlife experience of my life. The magic of that day will never fade.

Naturally Curious blog: www.naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com.

This is a story about the resilience of two small kittens who faced the certainty of death if not for a little bit of luck and the love of staff and volunteers at the Upper Valley Humane Society. Meet Apollo, a three-month-old kitten from Lebanon. He is as cute and soft as he looks with a chocolate nose, blonde fur, and brilliant blue eyes. He is also playful, sweet, and funny.

In his new home, Apollo hides in backpacks, snuggles in blankets, stalks movement under the covers, plays with a purple ball of yarn, goes for walks outdoors on a leash and harness, and loves to ride on his new mom’s shoulder.

Life was not always as good for Apollo. He and his sister, Royal, nearly froze to death earlier this winter. As kittens tend to do, they managed to get themselves into trouble. One cold night, Apollo and Royal accidentally found their way into a trap set to capture a nuisance animal. The night they were trapped, the temperature dipped below freezing and continued dropping all the way down to just 18 degrees. That would have been cold for anyone, let alone two four-week old kittens.

Luck was on their side that night, as some people found them, huddled up against each other and trying desperately to stay warm. These good samaritans did not hesitate, immediately scooping them up and rushing them to UVHS. Lucky to be alive, they came to us tucked inside a jacket, absorbing the body heat of the one of the people who found them.

Although they were breathing, both kittens were cold to the touch. Frigid. Apollo’s eyes were open, and he was watching, even hissing. His sister, Royal, was unresponsive. Immediately upon arrival, the UVHS animal care team set about trying to warm and revive the kittens. Our loving staff warmed them with hot water in plastic gloves, baby-safe heating disks, and their own body heat.

One of our veterinary technicians kept checking their temperatures, hoping that our attempts would work soon. You see, tiny kittens can’t eat when they are too cold, and these kittens clearly had not had food for quite a while. Finally, their little bodies started to warm up. As soon as possible, we gave them Karo syrup to help with their blood sugar levels. And then, not long after, they were mobile enough to have kitten milk replacer mixed with wet food and water. The resulting slurry was so delicious that the once unresponsive Royal even got a little protective of her food – she started to hiss! There could have been no sweeter sound to our hard-working staff and volunteers.

Even after the kittens started to eat, our team feared the worst, especially for Royal. She had been in worse condition than her brother, and they doubted she would make it through the night.

But this story has a happy ending. Thanks to our team and a wonderful foster volunteer, they both made it through that night, and the next one, and the one after that.

Our vet tech says, “We were very fortunate they made it through. Had they been left in the trap even an hour or so longer, they probably wouldn’t have made it.”

After several weeks in one of our most experienced foster homes, Royal and Apollo returned to UVHS for the final leg of their journey with us. Here, they were spayed and neutered, and we snuggled them while they woke up from surgery, getting as much time in with them as we could. We knew they would find homes quickly.

Just a couple days later, they went up for adoption and both met their new loving families within a few short hours.

Apollo and Royal were very lucky they were found that cold, cold night. They were lucky two kind people rushed them to our animal care team at UVHS. But love is what really saved them and saw them through those difficult days after rescue. We hope the happy ending for Apollo and Royal warms your heart this month as it did ours.

The Lebanon Police Department has always been one of the more progressive departments in the State of New Hampshire and they continue to lead the way.

As soon as all required training is complete, Lebanon will have three K-9 teams to serve and protect not only Lebanon, but surrounding communities as well. That turn of events will give the Lebanon Police Department one of the highest number of K-9 units per capita of any Police Department in the Granite State.

Meet the dynamic K-9 teams: Officer Jeremy Perkins works with K-9 Blesk, a Belgian Malinois imported from Slovakia who joined the force in February of 2018. Officer Nicholas Alden partners with K-9 Nitro who joined the unit in November 2018. Nitro is a German Shepherd purchased from the Hop River Shepherds in Connecticut. Officer Tyler Hewes teams with K-9 Kymba who joined the unit in January 2017. Kymba is a female German Shepherd purchased from the Vermont Sheriff’s Department.

Officers Jeremy Perkins with Blesk, Nicholas Alden with Nitro, and Tyler Hewes with Kymba

Officer Perkins is the most experienced of the trio with over 20 years of combined law enforcement experience, 14 years with the Lebanon Police Department. Jeremy has combined forces with Blesk after losing his beloved Max who succumbed to cancer in December of 2017. Max had become a true K-9 legend before his passing.

“Max was a very special K-9 and I miss him terribly,” Jeremy stated. We had become so close over the years. I have been around K-9s for a long time having trained them as well, and what folks should know is that dogs are very much like people. They all have different personalities and you have to watch and learn all their mannerisms. Max was incredible with so much energy and drive while Blesk
is a thinking dog and very low key. Both have different personality traits for sure.”

Jeremy also points out a critical factor for the K-9 force at Lebanon when it comes to their overall service.

“We do have three K-9 units and that is more than most Police Departments, but bear in mind, we respond to emergencies throughout the Upper Valley. We aid other law
enforcement agencies when called. A prime example is a rescue operation at the Quechee Gorge.”

Officer Nichols Alden and his dog Nitro are currently in the middle of an extensive 16-week training course. Make no mistake, it is a rigorous training experience for both dog and man.

“I first got interested in watching K-9 teams here and learned that there would be a lot of hard work involved. I knew it would be hard work for both of us. So far it is a wonderful experience because I have gained a new buddy. He goes home with me every night and we are bonding already. Nitro is a passive alert dog who will sit to alert a problem. We are both still learning.”

Officer Tyler Hewes teams with the only female K-9, Kymba, and the two have been connected for three years. The duo has completed all the K-9 training and, like the other units, they have bonded closely.

“Kymba has earned dual certification during her training and can be utilized in many different ways. She never leaves my side so we are becoming very close. One thing I really like as a K-9 team is the public’s reaction to us. Everyone seems to love a dog for sure! That makes it very enjoyable for both of us.”

I first heard about skijoring a few years ago. My friend Stevie’s dog Baxter is the kind of dog who loves to run and be out in the snow, and Stevie’s friend wanted to try skijoring. She asked if she could begin with Baxter. Now I never heard how it went – I don’t get to see my friend as often as I’d like – and the idea of skijoring slipped to the back of my mind for a while.

With winter its way; it’s always a fun time of year for outdoor activities with your dogs, and, while thinking about the different things people do, skijoring came to mind again.

But what is skijoring? Possibly you have seen pictures of people on cross country skis with a dog attached, running out in front of them, perhaps you have not. I was lucky enough to speak with Fran Plaisted of Orford, who has qualified for the World Championships in skijoring more than once, about the sport.

Fran began skijoring in the late 1980s. She had always been a skier, but when she got to college, she discovered downhill skiing was unaffordable, so she took up cross-country skiing. Solid cross-country ski skills are necessary for skijoring, and all that ski practice helped when her first dog arrived, and she began to skijor. After that, her ex-husband would also run a team of three or four sled dogs while she would skijor with the remaining one or two from their small kennel.

It’s a fun recreational sport, she noted. “Anything over 30-35 pounds is a skijor dog – well it can be. They have to want to pull, so the ones at the end of the leash, pulling, and the ones that can run by distractions. And that’s probably the hardest part for the recreational person, is teaching your dog that it’s not a leash walk, it’s not your chance to stop on the bush and pee and mark it. You do that before the run, and you do that after you run.”

According to the AKC, skijoring requires little equipment, a dog who weighs enough, a pair of skis, and a harness attaching you to your dog. To race, you need to have a dog who obeys their training and is polite and respectful to other dogs. And petguide.com provides some essential initial tips:

“Practice snowplowing so you can slow down. Also, practice falling down. You will spend lots of time falling in your first attempts, so work on balance to keep from falling down, and to learn how to get up. It is much easier to know you can get back up without an excited dog jumping and barking at you.”

One of the most frequent recommendations is to find people in the area who skijor, too, or places that give lessons. Unfortunately, most of the people Fran meets are not from the area, but, she notes, it would be a great sport to see take off in the Upper Valley. There are so many people who ski, and often with their dogs loose, it’s fun to work with their dogs, too.

Fran trains at various places, frequently at Greens Woodlands in Lyme, as well as Bear Notch Trail and others.

A good way to get started is called Canicross, a new type of dog race where you run cross-country with your dog on a harness, using the same kind of directional commands you use for skijoring and sled-dog racing. Not only are there fun recreational races, but it’s also a good way to start training your dog to skijor.

To skijor, Fran reiterated, the most important thing is excellent cross-country ski skills; otherwise, you’re likely to get hurt, and your dog may no longer want to participate because the more you fall, the more frustrated they get. She, like many resources on the internet, also noted the importance of being able to snowplow and practicing falling.

Fran has bred her dogs, like many skijor racers now do, to be Pointer crosses, often with Husky, although her best dog is a Pointer/Greyhound mix. Pointers have the speed and hard-headedness so many look for, and the Husky improves their feet in the snow.

As I mentioned at the beginning, Fran has qualified for the World Championships more than once, but, until last year she was not able to attend as they were usually held in Europe or Alaska.

Last year, however, Fran, who pointed out that she is in her 50s, qualified again and raced in the Championships, coming in 10th place, as well as the 2nd U.S. placing Team. Racing against the best of the best, including many Europeans who have become very skilled on skate skis, is impressive, and to place so well is incredible. What a journey from skijoring for fun to skijoring as a racer.

Fran would love to encourage interest in the Upper Valley. In the past, she has held clinics with others who are experienced with skijoring, while the interest seemed to wane then, she would be excited to try to pull together a clinic for the Upper Valley area. It would be fun to try a new winter sport this year!

Have you been lucky enough to meet Dudley, the not-so-mini mini-pig? Many in the Upper Valley have. Michelle Carbonneau and Zebulon Jenks of Vershire, Vt., are the proud owners of 3-year-old Dudley Winston Jenks, a miniature pig. Dudley is not a pot-bellied pig but a Juliana pig, also known as the Miniature Painted Pig. Unlike the more commonly known pot-bellied pigs, Juliana pigs are leaner in appearance, generally taller, and they lack the belly of other miniature pigs.

Also, Michelle and Zeb discovered that if fed and cared for properly, miniature pigs can actually grow to be quite sizable. Dudley has maxed out at a very healthy weight of 185 pounds.

All miniature pig breeders recommend lots of socialization from an early age in order to have a friendly adult pig. Since he was a piglet, Michelle and Zeb have made an effort to bring him everywhere they go. He loves to go for car rides and visit new places. Michelle and Zeb cater events on the weekends, often either weddings or for local fraternities, and Dudley usually goes with them. He’s happy to socialize with the people, dogs, kids, and just about any other animal. “We do a lot of catering for weddings. Sometimes the bride and the groom actually request that he comes along,” Michelle said.

Recently, he was the “king” of Wells, ME when Michelle brought him to the beach there. A lot of people had never seen a pet pig before, so they came up to pet him and many found themselves laying down in the sand with Dudley while they rubbed his belly. He was very happy to oblige. Belly rubs are one of Dudley’s absolute favorite things.

Dudley is also an avid hiker! His most recent hike was seven miles long. He’s happiest when he is wandering around in the woods with them, Michelle noted.

In general, Dudley is a pretty mellow pig, although that might have something to do with the fact that he has acres to roam, ponds to swim in, and Grandma and Grandpa’s house to visit next door. He does not do all this roaming alone, though; his absolute best friend is the couple’s 1-year-old boxer/lab mix, Bailey. The two snuggle and play together, and both are allowed loose in the house during the day while Michelle and Zeb are at work.

Of course, Dudley would rather snuggle with his owners. He used to sleep in the bed with them, but when he outgrew that he got his own bed at the foot of theirs. When it is bedtime, Dudley will wait by the bedroom door until Michelle comes in, pets him and rubs his belly, and then covers him up, and he will stay like that for the entire night.

The care for a pig like Dudley is much like caring for a dog his size. He visits the vet every year for his shots, eats proper food (including mini-pig food as well as fruits, veggies), and gets the opportunity to graze, and they had to make some changes to their house in order for Dudley to safely get around. He cannot go up and down stairs anymore, so they built ramps all throughout the house so Dudley could travel with ease. They also had to child-proof the entire house to keep the very smart, and sometimes naughty, pig out of trouble. He has a life expectancy of 20 years, so both needed to be prepared for the commitment.

His hooves have to be clipped, but Michelle trained him early to let her do this herself. Now she just rubs his belly until he relaxes and then she clips his hooves with a toenail clipper. One of the most incredible things, however, is that Dudley is trained to go to the bathroom outside. He arrived using pine shavings in a litter box but eventually decided he did not want to do that anymore, and now he waits at the door until someone lets him out.

Michelle grew up in Charlton, MA and while her family always wanted a mini-pig, they never had the opportunity to get one. Zebulon, on the other hand, grew up in Vershire with plenty of knowledge of farm animals. The two met while working together at the Elizabeth Mines Superfund Site in Strafford, Vt., where Michelle was the on-site engineer for a consulting company and Zebulon, the Superintendent for Northwoods Excavating, was working on the site as well.

When Michelle moved up here to be with Zeb, it seemed like the right time, and they decided to get Dudley. She enjoys spending her time roaming around with Dudley and educating people on miniature pigs any chance she can get. “I could not be more happy I got a mini-pig. He is like my world,” Michelle said. “He’s a pig who just wants to be around his mom, dad, and family all the time, and any chance I get to share that, I do.”

Catherine calms an owl

Those of us who have visited or read about wild animal rehabilitation centers generally understand that the people behind the scenes are doing some pretty incredible work. The amount of training these individuals have to undergo in order to be able to care for wild animals is intensive. There is often the dangerous potential for animals to react fearfully if they are not used to humans. There are sad stories that go along with the work, and sometimes it’s hard to let those stories go.

What is often forgotten is the part played by everyday citizens, the ones who take time out of their busy schedules to bring in these injured animals. When I began to write about Saint Francis Wild Bird Hospital in Lyme, NH and the work that Catherine Greenleaf does there, I was focused on her; but when I asked her to tell me her favorite rehabilitation story, it was not about her:

“I think my favorite story has to be the one about Harley, the Broadwing Hawk. His situation shows how kind people can be when they find an injured animal. It was 4th of July weekend several years ago, and a man was riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, breezing down Rte. 4 in Canaan, and all of a sudden a hawk flew into the front fender of his bike. The man turned just in time to see the hawk get flung across the road and into the bushes.

“He pulled over and stopped and then scooped up the badly injured hawk, and with one hand driving the motorcycle and the other hand holding the hawk, he somehow made it to my bird hospital. Harley had a severe head injury, and it took months for him to recover, but he recovered completely and was released the following spring. That act of kindness on the part of the motorcycle rider is the inspiration that keeps me going in what I do.”

A Barn Swallow who got trapped in a fly strip

Catherine with a Belted Kingfisher who flew into a window

Saint Francis Wild Bird Hospital in Lyme, NH is not necessarily the first wildlife hospital Upper Valley residents think of when they come across an injured bird, but Saint Francis has rescued over 1,400 birds since its inception in 2007. They are also licensed to take snakes and turtles, although Catherine noted that she has yet to have anyone bring in a snake.

A Great Horned Owl who was caught in a leg hold trap

It’s clear that working with birds is Catherine’s passion, one that gives back almost as much as she puts in. When asked to pick a favorite type of bird to work with she answered:

“It’s really hard to pick a favorite. I would say hawks and owls, ravens and crows, and loons. There’s a kind of holy presence about these birds, about all birds, actually, but these birds in particular for some reason. They are the ultimate in primal wildness; and they exude an intelligence that we as humans have yet to tap into.”

K-9 Max with Lebanon Police Officer Jeremy Perkins.

Fortunately the K-9 dogs associated with the Lebanon Police Department and throughout the Twin State region have a pair of guardian angels watching over them.

Dr. Daniel Kelly and his wife Jodi founded Small Animal Veterinary Emergency Services (S.A.V.E.S) in Lebanon, one of a very few 24-hour veterinary hospitals in New England. And along with the general public they serve a special clientele, K-9 dogs that hold full status as police officers.

SAVES offers emergency and routine medical exams to police K-9 units on a 24/7 basis, with a goal of offering that service at no cost to taxpayers.

“The cost factor of caring for these K-9 units is always a consideration for tight budgets, so we have donated as much of our time and service as possible,” Jodi Kelly explained. “We rely on donations as well, and to that end Curt Jaques, owner of West Lebanon Feed & Supply, has been a huge factor. He has offered so many fundraising efforts for S.A.V.E.S that have made a huge difference. My husband and I have a goal that eventually all expenses involved will be turned back to the police departments’ budgets.”

The Kellys launched the Stoneclliff Animal Hospital in Bradford, Vt., back in 1990 and opened their doors and hearts to all the Vermont State Police and their four-legged officers. Today at S.A.V.E.S, which opened in 2009 to bring 24-hour critical veterinary care to the Upper Valley region, they work with K-9 units from any police department, regardless of location.

Lebanon Police Officer John Tracy’s late K-9 companion Cody.

“Those K-9 Units are an integral part of our total arsenal for fighting crime,” Isham noted. “Especially in the war on drugs and tracking lost people. You can’t place a value on what they mean to us.”

Lebanon features two of the most renowned K-9 teams in New England: Senior Officers Jonathan Tracy with his dog Briggs, and Jeremy Perkins with his constant companion Max.

Perkins and Max were awarded the prestigious Vermont Police K-9 Patrol Team of the Year award by the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council in 2011 and 2013. Officer Perkins explained the Vermont connection.

“All K-9 teams in this area are trained at the Vermont Police Academy located in Pittsford, Vermont. They have a complete training center there and offer training on a continuing basis for various certifications. Here in Lebanon we are very fortunate to have two K-9 teams, and we are the only units from New Hampshire that Vermont will work with. This community has been very supportive allowing us to have two K-9 teams when many towns and cities are struggling to get one,” Perkins said.

“We train together as much as possible,” Perkins noted. “We are on patrol together at times to reinforce other officers, and the dogs are especially critical when securing a building where a crime suspect may be hiding. We can send them into the building or have them guard the perimeter. However, the majority of the time we patrol separately.”

Perkins, age 43, is a Maryland native who has been with the Lebanon Police Department for nine years. Max is an eight-year-old Belgian Malinois, one of four breeds of Belgian shepherds that have been developed by the military and law enforcement because of their special traits.

“The Malinois is a unique breed,” Perkins said. “They are smaller than a German shepherd. Max weighs about 65 pounds, while Briggs checks in around 95 pounds. The small size is made up for by their intelligence, quickness, energy, and enthusiasm. They are becoming more in demand for K-9 duties.”
Perkins explained in detail how inseparable the pair have become. Soul mates if you will. The duo not only work long hours together, they go home together when the shift has been completed.

“Max has lived with my family since I acquired him seven years ago and has become a family member. Over the years he has played with the kids and been just like any family pet. I bathe Max, feed him, groom him and make sure he gets exercise. Being a K-9 is very hard on a dog, both physically and mentally. We have forged quite a bond. I have no doubt in my mind that Max always has my back in any situation,” Perkins said.