In the News

Bears part of Vancouver 2010 Olympics

While agency staff and the bear smart team are all hopeful that our resident bears don’t wake up in time to attend the Olympics, bears have been well represented at the Games.

During the opening ceremonies, the Hymns of the North segment featured a giant, sparkling 20-meter LED-light covered puppet of a bear that rose from the stadium floor, and hovered over the performers on a simulated ice floe. Despite the arctic setting of the segment, the puppet was intended to represent a Kermode bear which inhabits the temperate rainforest of British Columbia's central coast. It was one of the largest puppets ever created.

Two of the Olympic Mascots also embody the spirit of the bear. Miga is a mythical sea bear, part orca and part Kermode bear; Sumi — the Paralympic mascot — has features of a thunderbird, black bear and orca whale. Read more.

Monument erected for fallen bear

Ojai (CA)memorializes Elliot, the bear that touched its heart. While trapped in a tree in the middle of town, residents and visitors grew very fond of the 400 pound black bear they dubbed Elliot. At the end of the day, at about 10 p.m. they shot him with a tranquilizing dart, and he climbed even farther up the tree. Hit with a second dart, he toppled at least 50 feet, landing on a fence and some cactuses. About 21 hours after he showed up on Aliso Street, he was hauled to another site and euthanized -- needlessly, according to critics -- by the Department of Fish and Game. Read more.

What’s New

BEAR DEN CAM: It's a girl! Lily's cub was born January 22nd

After considerable time in labor, often slamming her body against the side of her den, Lily gave birth to a healthy little girl weighing perhaps 3/4 of a pound. It was incredibly exciting! You can still watch it on YouTube - click here. Or watch her live right now and see what she's up to. Lily has over 80,000 fans on Facebook and her following is growing by the hour. You can follow her tweets on twitter too.

There's still time to catch the Webinar Series on Human-Wildlife Conflict

Don't miss this webinar - Potpourri of human-wildlife conflicts in BC by Mike Badry on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 from 10:00 to 11:00am PST. For more information; to register; or to watch previous webinars click here.

Also..... Join My Charity Connects for FREE hour-long information sessions that will cover topics relating to online technology and fundraising. Learn more.

Bear Smart Buy of the Month

With over 900,000 black bears roaming North America today, people from Florida to British Columbia are encountering bears more often, and as a result, human-bear conflicts are on the rise. Colorado author Linda Masterson dispels myths, replaces fear with respect, and lays the foundation for improving human-black bear relations with an inside look at the fascinating world of these highly intelligent, adaptable and resourceful animals. A must have for anyone living in bear country or anyone working toward creating a bear smart community. Buy now.

In this edition:

• In the News
• What’s New
• Bear Smart Buy of the Month