POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE 8: Bear Awareness Day at Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary - Special Demonstration at 11:00 a.m.
DUE TO SNOW EVENT AND FLOODING, BEAR AWARENESS DAY POSTPONED, SANCTUARY STILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TODAY
By Denise Rivette
It’s bear season! Do you know where your bear spray is? Do you know how and when to use it? Do you remember the physical and behavioral differences between black bears and grizzlies? On Saturday, June 8, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM., Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary (YWS) in partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is observing Bear Awareness Day as they do every year by providing an enjoyable day with the animals while providing education through a variety of optional activities that are included with the price of admission.
Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in its invitation to the community reminds us, “Now that bears are out and about after hibernation, it’s time for all of us to refresh our bear safety knowledge and maybe learn some new things along the way. At our event, you can practice bear-spray skills and learn bear safety from interactive displays. You can talk with FWP regional bear specialists about recent incidents around Red Lodge [and the rest of Carbon County] and how to deter bears from your property. There will be crafts and games to make learning fun for the whole family!”
YWS will be open for Bear Awareness Day from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For a special treat, plan your visit so you can be to be at their bear enclosure at 11:00 AM. “We’ll have a campsite set up and will allow our resident black bears, Bo and Blueberry, to “have at it.” You may be surprised just how capable they are of wrecking a campsite, complete with a tent, picnic table, coolers, and food. (They have a great time, too.) This is a good refresher for experienced campers and an eye-opener for beginners.”
A Video Clip from Last Year’s Event
Bear Awareness Day aims to reinforce the basics of bear safety in a safe and fun environment. Whether you’re experienced in wildlife safety or want to learn the basics, this event will inform you about better coexistence alongside the bears that share our environment. Admission to Bear Awareness Day is included with your admission to YWS.
Admission Information
Adults — $12
Seniors 55+ — $9
Military — $9
Children 4-12 — $6
Children under 4 — FreeMemberships are available to purchase at the Sanctuary at the time of events or can be purchased online HERE. Information on upcoming events can be found HERE.
Memberships start at $45 and include half price entrance to Billings’ ZooMontana, access to members only events, 10% discount on camps and workshops, 10% Gift Shop discounts and the knowledge you are helping to provide understanding and an appropriate home for animals native to our ecosystem that are unable to live freely in that environment, often because of human actions.
About the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary
The Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of providing lifelong sanctuary to non-releasable greater Yellowstone ecosystem wildlife while sharing a message of conservation and education. The Sanctuary has been providing safe, comfortable homes and long, fulfilling lives to animals whose only other option was euthanasia. Find out more at www.YellowstoneWildlifeSanctuary.org and schedule a tour.