It’s a Boy! And a Girl!

Born in January, these three bear cubs with sharp little claws are approximately 7 to 8 weeks old; courtesy of Emily Carrollo, Pennsylvania Game Commission

If bears had birthday parties, they’d all be in January and February. That’s when winter dens across the country turn into nurseries as most pregnant bears give birth to cubs weighing in at less than a pound that would easily fit into your hands. 

Human moms would probably envy a mother bear’s ability to give birth to one, two or three or more tiny cubs while half-asleep.  

Even though cubs are born with their eyes closed, unable to hear or smell and weak and uncoordinated they instinctively find their mom’s nipples and start nursing. Soon the den will be filled with mom’s snores and the happy sounds of cubs humming and purring while they snuggle up to mom and their siblings and fill their tummies with a steady diet of rich, warm milk. Bear’s milk has a fat content around 33%, so nursing cubs have no problem gaining weight.  

Over the next several weeks, cubs will keep eating, sleeping and growing and eventually start cautiously exploring their winter quarters. As winter slowly gives way to spring, their eyes will open, their teeth will come in and the fine hair they’re born with will be replaced by fur coats.  

To find out how many cubs are usually born, what a very large litter could mean and more fascinating facts, keep reading!


Bear biologist Adam Hammond examines a newborn bear cub near the den;
photo courtesy of Georgia Department of Natural Resources
https://bearwise.org

Courtesy of BearWise

🎄Just Down the Road🎄

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING AVAILABLE AT DOLL MOUNTAIN

From Keep Gilmer Beautiful
and the USACE Carters Lake

It’s that time of year again!

We will be accepting Christmas trees for recycling from 12/26/24 to 1/11/25 at the following locations:


Lowe’s parking lot, East Ellijay
Doll Mountain Day Use/Boat Ramp
Ridgeway Day Use
South ReReg Park
Dam Site Day Use


PLEASE…
No artificial trees and remove all lights and decorations


Sponsored by:

Keep Gilmer Beautiful
USACE Carters Lake
Friends of Our Beautiful Carters Lake Inc.

Always remember, the greatest gift you’ll ever receive is not found in the shops or under your tree. It is found in the hearts of your family and true friends.


The Board of Directors and Residents of

Tranquility at Carters Lake

wish you a very Merry Christmas. We hope 2025 will be a great year for you and your family.

Please stay safe and warm.

Maintenance

Our volunteer TACLOA Board of Directors has been addressing much needed maintenance and improvement projects.

We appreciate the time and effort given by them to keep our community such a beautiful place to live.

Lighting and Electrical Issues

  • the Tranquility Park pavilion
  • both the Harris Creek and North Harris Creek entrances
  • the bridge over Harris Creek
  • the monument entrance from Hwy 382 onto Doll Mountain Road
  • new track lighting in our Tranquility Park pavilion

new track lighting in our pavilion

Erosion Mitigation Projects

New rock and borders were installed at our Tranquility Park picnic islands and swing areas along Harris Creek.

creek bank erosion mitigation

creek bank erosion mitigation

new rock and borders in picnic islands