Meet the Mods: Bears

LaniH

Moderates Brown Bear cams
Favorite Animal: Bears
Favorite Live Cam Moment: Would be watching bear 503 learn to fish the falls last year. I fell in love with this bear a year ago which was my first year viewing the cams. I learned of his story, being abandoned by his biological mother 403 when she went into estrus early. Then his adoption by 435 Holly, which was a first for the bear cams. I remember watching him try his luck at fishing the Jacuzzi and the far pool. But one moment I caught on cams makes me giggle even to this day. I called it 503 and his downward dog fishing style.

503 has won the hearts of many chatters this year by doing water aerobics in the Jacuzzi, and his many many play sessions with 151 Walker and other subadults.

Why did you want to become a mod for Explore? I fell in love with the bear cam community and wanted to help in any way I could to keep it the funny, crazy, loving place that it is.

GABear

Moderates Decorah North Eagle and Brooks Brown Bear Cams

Favorite Animal: For a domesticated pet it would be dogs. In the wild I’d have to say Bald Eagles and Brown Bears. What is your favorite moment you have seen on an Explore live cam? Two

Favorite Live Cam Moment: Two Favorite cams so I have two moments. On the Decorah North Eagle cam, my favorite moment was July 9, 2016, 6:27 AM, watching DN 1 take his first flight from the nest. After a rough season that saw the loss of two eaglets and the illness (temporary) of Mom North, watching this gorgeous flight into the early morning fog was more emotional than others I’ve watched.

My favorite moment (I have many, so had to make a choice…) on the Bear Cams would have to be on Sept. 5, 2014 when 435 Holly returned to Brooks Camp with her cub (719) and the cub abandoned by 402 (503 Cubadult). It was the scene that told us beyond a doubt that Holly had indeed adopted 402’s cub as she was seen nursing it shortly after this photo.

Why did you want to become a mod for Explore? I didn’t know I did…. Until Courtney contacted me asking if I would consider being one for Decorah North! I really enjoy sharing observations and things I’ve learned with others. I’m paying it forward from those who helped me learn to love the eagles and the bears. Helping to keep the comments a place where everyone feels comfortable and can share and learn is important to me. I really believe you have to learn to love animals and nature to begin to care about protecting it.

CamOp Snick

Moderates Big Cat Rescue, Brown Bears, and Kitten Rescue Cams
Favorite Animal: Kittens/bobcats (it’s so hard to choose, please don’t make me!! Do I have to?? lol)
Favorite Live Cam Moment: It would have to be when Hoover came to BCR after being rescued from the Peruvian traveling circus. His first swim was amazing, it brought tears to my eyes. “Singing in the Rain”…that’s Hoover alright 🙂

Why did you want to become a mod for explore.org? I found myself spending a lot of time on the cameras (I understand that’s a common disease) and wanted to add another layer, in addition to my cam work, to the volunteer work I do with Explore. I enjoy the community so much.

RobNJ

Moderates Katmai, Service Dog Project, and Kitten Rescue Cams

Favorite Animal: Soo many…. and if I don’t mention felines, MY cat will take offense! The Dogs, the Bears , the Birds, the Cats….. I guess that of them all.. looking into the eyes of the Big Cats, speaks to my soul.

Favorite Live Cam Moment: Again, so many… I guess what REALLY hooked me on watching Explore.. Watching a litter of Great Danes being born, at SDP

Why did you want to become a mod for explore.org? I get so much, from viewing these cams, gives me a chance to “give something back”

CamOp Cairo’s Mom Mod

Moderates Panda and Service Dog Project Cams
Favorite Animal: Pandas
Favorite Live Cam Moment: Any and everything to do with pandas [as well as] every [SDP] birth since the cams went live in September 2012
Why did you want to become a mod for explore.org? I started because Pandas did not have any operators on their cams and they were on Autotour, which made one of my friends seasick. So she wrote explore and offered her services. They said get some friends and I have been here ever since.

CamOp Kelly

Moderates bears, big cats, eagles and bats
Favorite Animal: I really love penguins, owls, and elephants (well, to name a few)
Favorite Live Cam Moment: It’s so hard to pick one favorite moment on any one cam for me. I’ve had so many great moments on different Explore cams. I love watching the kittens play on Big Cat Rescue’s Kitten Cabana; I love to watch the bears at beginning of the season all the way to the end to see how big they get; watching the owls and eagles care for their babies and then watching them fledge; Cayman cam because it’s so relaxing–but always hoping to get to see a shark or stingray; bats for how they interact with each other. You name an Explore cam and I can tell you why it’s great to watch!
Why did you want to become a mod for explore.org? I wanted to be a mod for Explore because I love what Explore does by bringing amazing views and knowledge to so many people from all over the world. I also like to be able to help others by answering questions for viewers. It makes me happy to share with viewers knowledge that I may have on anything from how our pages work to what is happening in the views they see.

See all community moderators for explore.org here!

Want to know how to identify a mod?

Each mod will have two identifying characteristics, one will be a “mod” badge next to their username and the other one will be a “mod” avatar. Here is an example: