'Bear Cam' from a Minn. den may show live birth

Associated Press

Last update: January 8, 2010 - 8:14 AM

ELY, Minn. - A video feed is going live from the den of a hibernating wild bear.

The den is near Ely in northern Minnesota, and researchers say there's a better than average chance that its resident, Lilly, will give birth to 1-pound cubs around mid-January.

It's the work of film-and-video producer Doug Hajicek. He set up a similar "bear cam" in 1999, but no cubs were born.

Viewers and researchers will be able to witness Lily around the clock. The camera will transmit in color by day and produce infrared images at night. A motion sensor will trigger video and sound transmission when there's activity. Otherwise, it will send stills.

The feed will be available on the North American Bear Center's Web site at http://www.bear.org starting at noon Friday.

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