American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 218 Conducting Scientific Research in the Wilderness? (Combined Chapter of 10,000 Words)
Lin Yu'an's boots crunched on the thick snow.

The rising sun cast a long shadow of him, and the little December in his arms curiously turned her head, looking at the large box he was dragging with his other hand.

Back in the warm shelter, Lin Yu'an used a wooden bolt to secure the heavy door, completely shutting out the harsh cold outside.

He gently placed December on the ground, and then placed the heavy supply box in the open space in the center of the shelter with a muffled thud.

The sound was like a switch, instantly igniting December's curiosity.

It immediately stumbled over and circled around the enormous creature, which was several times its size.

It kept sniffing every corner of the box with its little nose, making "hmm" sounds in its throat as it searched.

Lin Yu'an didn't open the box immediately, but instead went to the fireplace. He brushed aside the ashes that had been sealed away the night before, revealing the still stubbornly burning embers beneath.

Skillfully placing birch bark and thin firewood on the fire, and gently blowing a few breaths, the orange-red flames rose again, bringing the first dynamic warmth to this morning.

He pointed to the GoPro that was always open on his chest and said, "The unboxing outside was just a quick look. Now, let's take a detailed look at these devices and make a work plan for the next step."

He took out all the items from the box one by one and arranged them neatly on the wolf skin, like a researcher preparing to conduct a precision experiment, and picked up the rugged electronic recorder.

The startup screen displays the logo of the Arctic Ecological Institute. Following the instructions, a new file was created and named 'December-ECCC-PB-2023-012'.

Then, he began his first data task of the day: recording environmental parameters.

The recorder has a built-in temperature and humidity sensor that accurately records the current temperature (2.5℃) and humidity (48%) in the shelter, providing data to assess whether the cubs' living environment is comfortable.

"Okay, environmental data entry complete."

He put down the recorder, picked up the can of milk powder, and said, "Now, let's begin our most important task today: preparing December's first professional formula milk since it arrived here."

"The guidelines require that the water temperature for mixing must be between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius, which is conducive to the dissolution of fat and protein in milk powder and is also the easiest for infants' intestines to accept."

As he spoke, he placed a small iron pot on the fire and put in a clean piece of snow. While waiting for the snow to melt, he began more detailed preparations.

I took out the portable UVC sterilization box, disassembled the brand-new silicone baby bottle, nipple, and cap, and put them inside.

Press the switch, and a pale purple light illuminates inside the box, initiating a 3-minute rapid disinfection process.

Soon, the snow water in the pot had completely melted and began to steam slightly. Precise temperature control was key, Lin Yu'an glanced at the supply box.

He walked over and carefully searched the foam recesses of the medical device, finding a pen-shaped metal probe electronic food thermometer.

Insert the thermometer probe into the water and watch the number on the LCD screen slowly drop from over 40 degrees Celsius, eventually settling precisely at 39.0 degrees Celsius.

"Perfect."

Next comes the precise mixing ratio. Take out the small electronic scale, place the freshly sterilized baby bottle on it, and press the "tare" button.

Then, using the included measuring spoon, carefully scoop out the milk powder. The milk powder has a very fine texture, a light milky yellow color, and a rich, oily aroma.

His eyes were fixed on the numbers on the screen, his wrist as steady as a machine, until the reading precisely showed "50g".

Then slowly pour in the warm water that has been adjusted to the correct temperature until the total weight becomes "250g".

He explained to the camera, "The guidelines clearly state that for infants like December, the first transition to formula should not be rushed."

"You need to start with a relatively conservative amount of food to allow its digestive system to adapt. Use 50 grams of formula powder per feeding, mixed with 200 grams of water, for a total of 250 grams of formula."

"And it is necessary to closely observe its bowel movements over the next 4-6 hours."

He put the nipple cap on and started shaking the bottle in a circular motion instead of shaking it violently up and down.

"The guidelines specifically emphasize that, just like when preparing human infant formula, vigorous shaking will produce a lot of bubbles in the milk."

"If babies swallow too much air, it can cause bloating, spitting up, or even abdominal pain. The correct way is to shake the bottle in a circular motion until the formula is completely dissolved."

The white powder adhering to the bottle wall gradually dissolved into the water, forming a thick, milky-white liquid. A rich, milky aroma, far superior to his homemade formula, filled the air.

"Many people may be curious whether this kind of milk powder is safe for people to drink?" Lin Yu'an looked at the camera and thought of an interesting point to share.

"The answer is, absolutely not, and it's extremely dangerous."

He held up the milk powder can and pointed to the ingredient list: "Crude fat content is greater than or equal to 35%, and crude protein content is greater than or equal to 40%. What does that mean?"

"Polar bear milk is one of the most energy-dense milks in nature, with a fat content of over 33%, which is almost ten times that of human milk and eight times that of cow's milk."

"This high-fat formula is designed to help pups quickly accumulate fat to maintain their body temperature in extremely cold environments."

"An adult human digestive system is simply unable to process such a high concentration of fat. If ingested, it can cause severe fatty diarrhea and dehydration."

"In severe cases, it can trigger acute pancreatitis, which is fatal in the wild. Some people might ask, 'Can I drink it diluted?' The answer is even worse."

"Because in addition to fat and protein, it also contains many complex substances that meet the special physiological needs of polar bears."

"For example, extremely high doses of taurine are used to support the special development of their heart muscle and retina, as well as some specific trace elements and fatty acids that we humans cannot effectively metabolize."

"Even when diluted, these substances can still place an irreversible metabolic burden on the liver and kidneys after entering the human body, posing incalculable risks."

"Therefore, this thing is a life-saving elixir for December, but a deadly poison for humans. You must understand that the systems of every species in nature cannot be confused casually."

After explaining the science, the breast milk was ready. He inverted the bottle and dripped a few drops of milk onto the inside of his wrist; the temperature was just right.

Since the box was opened, December has been circling around it, her mouth watering from the rich milky aroma.

Upon seeing the bottle ready, it immediately pounced on him, its little head eagerly nudging against his legs, making anxious "woofing" sounds.

Lin Yu'an sat down with a smile, holding December in his arms and letting it lean against him in a comfortable semi-reclining position.

Then I picked up the bottle and gently placed the blunt, rounded silicone nipple to December's little mouth.

In December, it immediately opened its mouth and took the nipple in one bite. As the first sip of warm, sweet milk flowed into its mouth, it immediately let out a satisfied whimper.

It began to suck vigorously and rhythmically, its little mouth like a powerful little pump. With each suck, the liquid level in the bottle could be seen to drop slightly, and a string of tiny bubbles would emerge.

A satisfied "glug, glug" swallowing sound came from its tiny throat. Its two front paws, like those of a human baby, instinctively held the bottle.

The furry claws clung tightly to the warm bottle, their black tips occasionally scraping across the silicone surface with a soft scraping sound.

The tiny paw pads open and close, as if mimicking the kneading motion in a mother's arms.

Its eyes were comfortably squinted into slits, its long eyelashes trembled slightly, and its whole body rose and fell gently with the sucking motion, completely immersed in the bliss of eating.

A series of satisfied "mmm" sounds, like a small motor, kept emanating from deep within her throat, and her whole body swayed slightly with overwhelming happiness.

Looking at its adorable appearance, Lin Yu'an felt a surge of tenderness in her heart. She steadily held the bottle in one hand and gently stroked December's back from top to bottom with the other, helping it catch its breath.

The 250 ml of milk was quickly devoured by December. She sucked on the empty bottle a few more times, seemingly wanting more, before letting go and letting out a satisfied burp filled with the sweet smell of milk.

After eating and drinking its fill, drowsiness returned, and it didn't even have the energy to explore the big box anymore. It just lazily yawned, revealing its pink mouth and its baby teeth that hadn't fully grown in yet.

It skillfully climbed onto Lin Yu'an's sleeping bag, where his body heat and scent still lingered. Finding a comfortable spot, it curled up into a ball and quickly drifted off to sleep again.

Lin Yu'an looked at its little belly rising and falling and smiled with satisfaction.

I carefully disassembled the bottle again, cleaned it thoroughly with a long-handled brush and water, and then put it back into the UVC sterilization box, ready for the next feeding.

After doing all this, he finally had time to prepare a belated breakfast for himself: a piece of leftover grilled fish from last night.

After eating a few bites of cold grilled fish to replenish his energy, Lin Yu'an began preparing for his outing today.

After eating and drinking his fill in December, he was fast asleep on his sleeping bag, breathing steadily.

During this stage, the cubs will spend 18 to 20 hours a day sleeping to digest and grow. This is a precious window of opportunity for them to go outside and be active.

But he was still worried, so he walked over to the sleeping bag, bent down, and gently stroked the little guy's fluffy back. The little guy hummed comfortably in his sleep and rolled over.

"I'm going out for a bit in December, I'll be right back," he whispered to the sleeping little furball.

He opened the door, slipped out, and stepped into that white world ruled by ice and snow.

Then, immediately from the outside, a pre-set thick wooden bolt was firmly driven into the groove on the door and the deep pit in the ground.

This externally fixed bolt structure ensures that the door is firmly locked and cannot be easily pushed open from the outside.

While this might not withstand a full-force attack from an adult brown bear, it would be sufficient to handle the probing of most small and medium-sized predators and prevent December from accidentally opening the door after waking up.

The outdoor temperature was lower than he had imagined, and the biting wind felt like knives scraping his face.

The sky was a leaden gray, overcast, foreshadowing that the weather might not be good. Without hesitation, he checked his bearings and headed towards the lake.

Our first destination was the fishing nets set up under the ice yesterday afternoon. We soon arrived at the familiar fishing spot in the middle of the lake.

The ice caves he covered with spruce branches and snow remained intact, preventing them from freezing solid overnight.

He used the end of his spear to pry open the covering, revealing a hole beneath which a thin layer of ice had formed. He used a homemade ice spoon to scoop out the ice fragments and then began to slowly pull the net up.

The fishing net felt very light in his hand, and Lin Yu'an's heart sank.

Sure enough, as the long nylon net was pulled out of the water section by section, only three or four small red-spotted salmon were found hanging on it, the largest of which weighed no more than a pound.

He untied the few pitiful fish, a grave expression on his face: "The situation is not good. It seems the blood bait has completely lost its effectiveness."

"Without the continued attraction of the strong smell of blood, the fish have dispersed, and relying solely on the passive interception of the fishing nets is very inefficient."

Lin Yu'an knew he had to make a change; continuing to stay here would only be a waste of time.

"I need to find new fishing spots and continue searching for deep water areas with relatively stable water temperatures or areas with fresh water inflow. This lake is very large, and I need to spend time exploring it."

He threaded a nylon rope through the gills of the small fish and tied them together. Then he lowered the fish string back into the ice cave, securing the other end of the rope firmly to an ice spike.

This is a natural refrigerator; the cold lake water keeps the fish absolutely fresh until he needs them.

After doing all this, Lin Yu'an did not linger on the lake, but turned and walked towards the forest on the shore.

His second objective was to inspect several land traps he had set at the edge of the forest.

Compared to the uncertainty of ice fishing, the harvest cycle of land traps is longer and more unstable.

He skillfully traversed the snow, searching for the marks he had left behind, and arrived at the location of the first trap.

This is a classic figure-four wooden slab trigger trap, which he built with a few small sticks and wire tripwire, with the aim of capturing grouse or ptarmigans that like to forage in the forest.

The trap was intact and had not been triggered. Upon inspection of the red berries used as bait, they were found to be frozen solid.

"Looks like my luck is running out." He shook his head and continued toward the next trap.

They checked three traps in a row, but found nothing.

If this had happened yesterday, such a result would have been enough to weigh heavily on Lin Yu'an's mind. But today, his mindset is unusually calm, and he no longer feels anxious.

"Looks like I'm not having much luck today. But it's okay, at least for now, I don't have to worry about food for December."

He stopped and gazed at the vast snowfield in the distance, then continued, "In December, we have professional rations, which are more scientifically sound than any food I can provide."

"As for me, I only need to focus on solving my own survival problems. This feels much easier."

"Now I only need to think about how to obtain enough calories for myself most efficiently, and how to better complete my research tasks."

Just as he had adjusted his mindset and was preparing to go to the last trap point for a routine check before heading home, an unexpected surprise appeared.

The last trap was one he had painstakingly set up on a hidden rabbit trail.

A rabbit trail is a fixed path formed by snowshoe hares through the thick snow by their repeated trampling.

He used two small trees that were very close together and a fallen dead tree as a support and power source to create a high-trigger lasso trap.

From a distance of more than ten meters, he saw obvious signs of struggle in the snow. Overjoyed, he immediately quickened his pace.

Upon closer inspection, a plump snowshoe hare was found suspended in mid-air by a lasso made of nylon rope, and it was already stiff.

Its fur has turned pure white for winter, blending perfectly into the snowy environment; it would be almost impossible to spot if not for the traps.

"That's fantastic!" Lin Yu'an's face broke into a genuine smile.

“An adult snowshoe hare weighs at least three or four pounds, which makes it richer in protein.”

Snowshoe hares are a very important food source in the Arctic region. Although their meat is not as fatty as fish, it is extremely high in protein.

More importantly, this unexpected gain has given Lin Yu'an more energy to observe and record December's growth over the past two days.

He untied the lasso and put the frozen snowshoe hare into his backpack. Without destroying the trap, he reset it.

In the wilderness, after each harvest, one must prepare for the next.

Carrying his heavy haul, Lin Yu'an felt extremely happy. He glanced at the sky and decided to stop exploring and return to the shelter immediately.

Although his food anxiety was greatly relieved, his longing for the little one who was home alone was stronger than ever before.

When Lin Yu'an pushed open the heavy door of the shelter, it was already noon. The sky outside was growing increasingly gloomy, as if snow could fall at any moment.

A warm breeze rushed towards him, instantly making him feel as if he had returned from an ice cellar to the human world. He quickly bolted the door shut again before turning his gaze to the corner of the shelter.

December had already woken up, but she didn't rush over to greet him immediately. She remained lazily lying on the sleeping bag, still half asleep.

Polar bear cubs of this age do nothing but eat and sleep, as if they want to use every bit of energy for growth.

When it saw Lin Yu'an, it made a few soft, babyish "hmm" sounds as a greeting. It raised its fluffy little head slightly before lying back down.

Lin Yu'an smiled, put down the backpack on his back and the spear in his hand. He walked to December's side, reached out, and rubbed its fluffy little head.

The little guy gave a comfortable hum and rubbed his cheek against his palm.

"You lazybones, look what good stuff I brought back for you."

As Lin Yu'an spoke, he took out the snowshoe hare, which was already frozen stiff, from his backpack. He held the hare by its ears and waved the white, furry creature in front of December.

He didn't intend to feed December this, but he knew it was an excellent tool for "enriching" it and stimulating its natural instincts.

At first, December just glanced at it lazily, but when an animal scent completely different from the fishy smell entered its nostrils, its eyes instantly changed.

It was like a key that instantly unlocked another part of its dormant memories.

The December sleepiness vanished instantly. She jumped out of her sleeping bag, curiously approaching the snowshoe rabbit, her little nose tracing the rabbit's cold fur.

Its eyes were filled with novelty and an undisguised excitement; this was the first time in its life that it had come so close to its land prey.

Lin Yu'an placed the snowshoe rabbit on the ground, and December tentatively stretched out its furry front paw and gently patted the rabbit's body.

The rabbit was stiff and motionless, which seemed to have put it at ease.

What happened next made Lin Yu'an burst into laughter.

December's curiosity was completely unleashed, and it clumsily picked up the snowshoe rabbit with its two front paws.

Like playing with a newly acquired plush toy, he lifted the rabbit above his head and then threw it to the ground with a "thud".

It circled the rabbit twice, then stretched out its paws and kept stroking the rabbit's long ears. After playing for a while, it seemed to feel that it wasn't enough, so it opened its little mouth and tried to tear at the rabbit's fur with its still-growing milk teeth.

Of course, with its current strength, it couldn't possibly bite through the tough rabbit skin. So the bear simply pounced on it, pinning the rabbit beneath it, holding it with all four paws, and rolling it around on the ground.

That mischievous yet slightly clumsy and fierce appearance made him look exactly like a "trainee killer" practicing hunting.

Lin Yu'an didn't disturb it, but simply sat quietly beside it, watching everything with a smile. The GoPro on his chest was recording this precious moment.

He knew that December was using this dead prey to stimulate and rehearse its future hunting instincts for survival.

Biting, pouncing, rolling... these seemingly playful actions are all preparations for it to become a true Arctic overlord.

And he was fortunate enough to become the first witness to all of this.

In his behavior log, he solemnly wrote a line:

"On December 5th, at noon, the animal made its first contact with a whole prey (snowshoe hare) and exhibited strong exploratory and playful behaviors, initially demonstrating its hunting instincts. This is an important milestone."

The snowshoe rabbit was ultimately "confiscated" by Lin Yu'an.

After playing wildly for nearly ten minutes, December finally ran out of energy. Panting, it lay on the ground, its pink tongue lolling out, like a tired little dog.

The poor rabbit was a mess, its saliva and paw prints covering its pure white fur with dirt and grass clippings from the sanctuary ground.

Lin Yu'an smiled and shook his head, putting the rabbit back into his backpack, where it would become his dinner for the next two days.

Tired from playing in December, sleepiness washed over it again. Yawning, it instinctively tried to climb onto Lin Yu'an's sleeping bag, which it considered the safest and most comfortable place besides Lin Yu'an's embrace.

But this time, Lin Yu'an gently reached out and blocked its path.

“Wait, little one, we have something very important to do. This is a task personally assigned to us by Dr. McCormick, and we must complete it carefully.”

December tilted its fluffy little head, its obsidian-like eyes filled with confusion, not understanding why it wasn't allowed to go to sleep.

Lin Yu'an turned around, picked up the rugged electronic recorder, swiped the screen, and directly flipped to the "Daily Care" chapter of the "Emergency Guide for Temporary Care of Polar Bear Cubs".

His gaze finally settled on a title that made his expression somewhat subtle—"Excretion Assistance and Observation".

He leaned the recorder against a piece of wood, cleared his throat, and began his on-site teaching in a tone tinged with helplessness.

"Alright, now we're going to do a... well, a very down-to-earth research task."

"This may be the part of the entire care process that tests the psychological resilience of the new dad, but at the same time, it is also the most important step in assessing the health of the pup."

He pointed to the scientific text on the screen and explained it word by word.

"According to the detailed instructions in the guide, polar bear cubs in the December age group, which is about two months old, have not yet fully developed their nervous system and muscle function."

"In particular, the neural pathways controlling the sphincter muscles are not yet fully established. Simply put, they cannot control defecation and urination voluntarily."

"In nature, after each feeding, the mother bear will repeatedly lick the cubs' abdomen and anal area. This physical stimulation has two crucial functions."

"First, it stimulates the pups' intestinal peristalsis and bladder contractions, helping them to empty their bodies smoothly, which is crucial for preventing constipation and urinary tract infections."

"Secondly, the mother bear will immediately lick all the excrement clean."

Lin Yu'an said, his face showing admiration: "This may sound a little... hard to accept, but it is the ultimate wisdom that polar life has evolved over millions of years."

“In that secluded snow cave where it was isolated for months, doing this would keep the nest absolutely clean and completely eliminate any odor.”

"The scent of cub excrement is an extremely clear signpost for wolves, wolverines, and even hungry male polar bears with their keen sense of smell."

"The mother bear uses this method to completely erase all traces and also to recycle the precious water and salt in her cubs' excrement."

"It is used to maintain the basic consumption of the body during the long lactation period of several months without eating, drinking and excretion. Behind every seemingly incredible detail is the word 'survival'."

He took a deep breath and closed the recorder screen.

"Of course, I don't have a tongue like a mother bear, nor do I need to recycle water." He chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"But I need to do the 'stimulating excretion' step for the mother bear. Otherwise, December may develop more serious health problems because she cannot completely empty her bowels."

"Not to mention, it could turn our warm little home into a biological disaster site anytime, anywhere."

He began to prepare the "surgical instruments" in an orderly manner.

From that professional medical monitoring kit, I took out a pair of sterile, medical-grade nitrile gloves.

I showed the packaging to the camera, and the label clearly stated, "Nitrile material, powder-free, sterilized."

These gloves are made of a tough, waterproof material and, unlike latex gloves, will not cause allergic reactions, making them the preferred choice for any medical or nursing procedure.

Then, he took out several vacuum-compressed, highly absorbent sterile cotton pads from the supply box, each one about the size of his palm.

Additionally, there is a small bottle of clearly labeled 0.9% sodium chloride solution, also known as saline solution, used to moisten the cotton pad, simulating the moist feeling of a mother bear's tongue, and providing a gentle cleaning effect.

"Alright, all geared up." He waved the item in his hand, a comical expression on his face that suggested he was about to die a martyr.

“These professionals have thought things through very thoroughly; they’ve even prepared these things. Now, everything is ready, except for one… brave operator.”

His first task is to establish a fixed toilet for December, a habit of having a fixed place to defecate, which is crucial for future husbandry and rewilding training.

Reaching the entrance of the shelter, he pulled open the heavy bolt. He needed to find a location downwind of the shelter's living quarters, one that would be easy to clean and observe.

He eventually chose to stand under a low spruce tree a few meters downwind from the shelter. He stomped his feet on the snow; it was relatively flat and thick there.

A snow pit about 20 centimeters deep was dug out here, and then a layer of spruce needles was laid at the bottom of the pit.

"OK, the private open-air toilet is ready." He nodded in satisfaction.

"I chose the downwind side so that the odor could be dispersed by the wind as soon as possible. I dug a pit and lined it with pine needles so that the excrement could be collected and disposed of in a concentrated manner, making it easier for me to observe and clean up afterward."

After making thorough preparations, he returned to the house and gently picked up December, who was still sleepy and completely unaware of what she was about to face.

The little one thought they were going to play again and snuggled affectionately into his arms.

"Come on, little guy, let's go to the toilet. This might be your first hygiene lesson in your bear life, so you'd better learn it well."

He carried December to the makeshift toilet outside the door, then squatted down in the snow, supporting December's chest and abdomen with one hand and its back with the other.

Position its little bottom so that it is aligned with the snow pit, with its hind legs hanging down naturally. This position allows the cub's abdominal muscles to relax, making it easier for it to excrete waste.

The cold made December a little uneasy, and it began to wriggle in Lin Yu'an's arms. Lin Yu'an rubbed her cheek against its head to soothe it.

Then, he tore open the sterile packaging and put on the blue nitrile gloves, which fit his palms perfectly, allowing him to clearly feel the touch of his fingertips.

Unscrew the cap of the saline solution bottle, pour out some, thoroughly soak a sterile cotton pad, and gently warm it with the warmth of your palm to make it moist rather than cold.

Recalling the illustrations and text in the guide, it said, "The pressure should be gentle but steady, with a frequency of about one to two times per second, massaging in a clockwise circular motion."

He began to gently wipe and massage December's lower abdomen and the area around her anus in a circular motion with that warm, moist cotton pad.

December was clearly very uncomfortable with this unfamiliar touch, and its body tensed up instantly!
Its sleepy eyes suddenly opened wide, and a sharp, protesting "howl" immediately came from its throat. Its four short legs kicked wildly in the air, trying to break free from this "harassment".

"Don't move, don't move, little guy, relax, you'll be fine soon." Lin Yu'an soothed it with the gentlest voice possible, while holding it more firmly with his chest and arms.

He dared not stop his movements, but only made them lighter and slower. He could feel that the little guy in his arms was as tense as a stone, and all the fur on his body seemed to stand on end.

This is a stress response to an unknown stimulus. Lin Yu'an's heart clenched, and she even began to doubt whether she had done the right thing.

But the thought of giving up only flashed through his mind. He couldn't give up halfway just because of a temporary discomfort in December; that would only make it worse.

All he could do now was give the little one in his arms 100% patience and comfort, speaking softly and gently in a low voice.

"Okay, okay, it's alright, it's December, relax... I know it feels weird, but trust me, it's good for you..."

He stopped thinking about the GoPro footage and the research data; all his attention was focused on the little life in his arms that was resisting him.

"It'll be over soon, you see, like this... We're just doing a little cleaning..."

He patiently and persistently offered this dual reassurance through both words and actions. Time passed slowly.

About a minute or two later, a wonderful change occurred.

December seemed to finally realize that he didn't intend to hurt her, and the small body in her arms, which had been as stiff as a stone, began to slowly relax.

Its struggles lessened, and its sharp protests turned into aggrieved, intermittent whimpers.

It seemed that it finally understood Lin Yu'an's intention from this continuous and rhythmic stimulation, or rather, its body's instinctive reaction finally overwhelmed its resistance.

Suddenly, Lin Yu'an felt the little guy in his arms stiffen slightly, let out a long, relieved groan, and then completely relax.

He looked down and saw a clear liquid trace an arc as it fell into the snow pit below, soaking a patch of dry spruce needles.

Immediately afterwards, some golden, evenly textured, pasty excrement was also successfully expelled.

Become!

An indescribable sense of accomplishment instantly dispelled all of Lin Yu'an's previous embarrassment. He had successfully replicated one of the most crucial parenting behaviors of a mother bear!

He is no longer just a feeder; he has taken another step closer to becoming a true caregiver!
Having emptied her body in December, she clearly felt an unprecedented sense of comfort.

All the anxiety and resistance disappeared, replaced by an ultimate sense of relaxation.

Like a melting marshmallow, it nestled comfortably in Lin Yu'an's arms, motionless, and even gave a small, comfortable yawn.

Lin Yu'an used a new, damp cotton pad to clean the downy fur around December's tail. Holding the incredibly relaxed December, he walked back to the warm shelter.

He did not forget his most important scientific research task. He picked up the rugged electronic recorder and solemnly wrote a new entry in the day's log.

This time, he recorded it in exceptionally detail:

[Research Data Recording]

Date: December 4th

Time: 12:45 PM
Event: First instance of assisted excretion.

Urine record:

Number of times: 1.

Color: Pale yellow, clear and transparent.

Odor: No obvious ammonia smell or abnormal odor.

Assessment: Hydration status is good.

Bowel movement record:

Number of times: 1.

Color: Mustard yellow.

Appearance: Uniform paste, without grainy texture or undigested milk curds.

Odor: Normal lactic acid fermentation smell, without sour or fishy odor.

Fecal occult blood test: negative.

Behavioral observation: The cubs showed obvious resistance and struggle in the early stages of stimulation (about 2 minutes) and made protesting noises.

After continuous reassurance and stimulation, the child gradually calmed down and completed excretion. After excretion, the stressful behavior completely disappeared, and the child showed relaxation and satisfaction.

Preliminary conclusion: The digestive system has adapted very well to the new specialized formula milk powder, with no signs of diarrhea, constipation, or indigestion. Feeding will continue at the current ratio and frequency.

After finishing recording, he looked at the lines of professional and rigorous text on the screen, then at December, who was already starting to doze off in his arms, and a fatherly smile appeared on his face.

In an instant, the furry little guy in front of him seemed to overlap with some scenes from the depths of his memory.

He remembered when his son was just born, he hadn't had a bowel movement for several days. Using the same method, he clumsily massaged and stimulated his son with a cotton swab dipped in warm water.

The immense joy and relief he felt when his son finally had a bowel movement was remarkably similar to the feeling he was experiencing now.

He thought of his daughter again. After drinking her milk, she always liked to hold his finger, smack her lips, and then fall into a deep sleep in his arms, her long eyelashes like two little brushes.

That satisfied and dependent look was almost identical to the way December looked when she was squinting and sucking on her bottle.

A sudden, yet incredibly intense longing struck him without warning.

He had been in this wilderness for dozens of days, and in order to win the challenge and survive, he had devoted almost all his energy to the struggle against nature.

He suppressed his longing for his family deep in his heart, not daring to touch it easily, because he knew that such tender emotions might be a burden in this cold land.

But at this moment, holding this little life that also needed his care, a corner of the hard shell he had deliberately built quietly melted away.

He began to miss his wife uncontrollably, and wondered if his son and daughter had grown up a lot.
This time when I go back, I definitely won't leave them for so long again.
Lin Yu'an gently placed December back on the warm sleeping bag. Almost the instant she touched it, December curled up into a ball and fell into a deep sleep.

He felt his connection with the little life deepen, and he was using scientific methods to play the role of a mother bear.

From today onward, preparing formula, feeding, taking temperatures, weighing, assisting with excretion, recording data... these trivial daily tasks will become his most important tasks in this wilderness.

Looking at its peaceful little face, Lin Yu'an felt a sense of tranquility.

He also plans to acquire more fat from wolves, rabbits, and fish, which are the food sources he currently has.

From a protein perspective, his reserves are already quite luxurious, enough to allow him to eat whatever he wants, and he will not have to worry about hunger in the short term.

He explained to the camera, "The protein problem has been solved, but that's only the foundation for survival. In this extremely cold place, the real hard currency is fat."

"My own body is like a furnace that burns calories. Just maintaining body temperature requires thousands of calories of energy every day."

"Without sufficient fat intake, my body will start to burn its own muscle for energy."

“There are still more than 20 days until the challenge ends.” His eyes sharpened, filled with planning and a sense of purpose. “Therefore, I must have new and higher-quality fat to gain.”

He walked to the entrance of the shelter, pushed open the heavy door, and looked into the distance into the depths of the coniferous forest covered with snow.

“The terrain there is more complex, and it may be inhabited by larger animals. Relying solely on these small prey at the edges of lakes and forests is far from enough.”

"I need a bigger goal, one that can provide enough fat to sustain me for the rest of my life!"

In his mind, he began to picture the various large animals that inhabited this land, and how a successful capture would guarantee him another championship.

"There are still many chores to do this afternoon, such as processing the fish and setting up a smokehouse."

"We can only wait until tomorrow, when December is asleep. We must embark on a long trek deep into the forest to search for... the tracks of an even bigger one."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

(Let me explain why I've been combining 10,000-word chapters into one a few days: I wanted to boost the average number of subscriptions per day, as we're only a few hundred more needed to break the 10,000-subscription mark!)

(End of this chapter)