For the 14th summer in a row, a generous Wildlife Center donor has issued a summer matching fundraising challenge! Since 2012, these summer MegaMatches have been designated for a variety of critical Center projects and patients. This year, the donor has done it again – she will donate $3,000 if Critter Nation matches her contribution!
This year's focus is Bear Care! With seven cubs in this year's cohort, most of whom arrived in early spring, the rehabilitation staff have had their hands full. Since arriving this spring, these growing cubs have progressed from ‘round-the-clock bottle feedings (requiring a temporary overnight shift for the bear care team!) to being fully weaned from formula. Now, they're making the move into the Black Bear Complex. Four cubs settled into a half-acre yard on July 1, with the remaining three expected to join them later this month. There, these seven bears will spend the next several months growing, exploring, and developing the skills they'll need before their release in spring 2027. You can watch all the action live on the Wildlife Center's Critter Cams!
Bear cub rehabilitation is a long-term commitment. Unlike many young wildlife patients, these cubs will spend nearly a full year in the Center's care before they're ready for release. Their appetites grow just as quickly as they do, building throughout the summer. By fall, we expect these seven cubs to be consuming about 1,000 pounds of food each week. This year's Bear Care Challenge will help provide that nutritious diet of proteins, fruits, and vegetables, while also supporting the behind-the-scenes costs of maintaining the Black Bear Complex throughout the cubs' rehabilitation, including recent repairs to the electrical fencing and plumbing systems that help keep both the bears and staff safe.
In addition, this year's Bear Care Challenge will help fund two important pieces of equipment for the bear rehabilitation program:
Additional Zinger crate: While admissions of healthy orphaned cubs are likely winding down for the year, injured bears can arrive at any time. An additional heavy-duty Zinger crate would provide a safe, secure way to temporarily house future bear patients. After years of caring for dozens of bears, the Center's existing Zingers have taken quite a beating!
Bear scales: Accurately monitoring a bear's weight is an important part of evaluating growth and overall health throughout rehabilitation. Two new scales will help the veterinary and rehabilitation teams safely and efficiently weigh bear patients of all sizes, from young cubs to much larger bears.
Make your donation on Wednesday, July 8, and it will be doubled, up to $3,000! Join us on the Critter Cam moderated discussion throughout the day as we share bear stories and photos and provide updates on our fundraising challenge.
July 9 update: We did it! Thanks to our amazing supporters, we blew past our challenge goal and raised a total of $17644.12 for Bear Care! Thank you all for your support.