Yesterday was an exciting day for the bears (and the humans) here at the Center. Igloo brought two coolers to test, and the bears just went at them. Teeth, claws, body weight, strategy - all sorts of methods were utilized to try breaking into those containers! You should have seen the looks and heard the noises as the bears took turns trying to crack the code. Not to ruin the suspense, but both coolers passed! Containers require an hour of bear contact without entry to be considered bear-resistant. The boys especially gave it their best shot, but on this day, the coolers won.

The wolves had an exciting day yesterday too! We'll post the pictures soon to prove it, but while the bears were pouncing on containers, the wolves were pouncing on live trout! Big ones too! Live fish are always a treat for the animals and the visitors. The River Valley pack spent the afternoon fishing and eating.

The birds are doing well. If you haven't had a chance yet to visit the outdoor aviaries, we highly recommend it. Proof positive that excitement may be over-rated, the eagles and Great-horned owl seem to enjoy "hanging out." If we claimed your blood pressure would drop and your mood would elevate after just a few minutes with the birds, would you think we're crazy? We challenge you to try it.

 

 
It's Back to School time in West Yellowstone and throughout the country. Welcome back to classes everyone! For us, the beginning of the school year means fewer students visiting with families, but more classroom and school groups, and more outreach programs. Jago will be going back to school soon, and all our educational birds will be appearing at various events and programs here and throughout the region in the coming weeks and months.

Trent will be taking a bird and several educational materials to the Big Sky Resort Festival this Saturday, and next week already has two school groups on the calendar. Give us a call if you'd like us to visit your school or group, or if you're headed our way and would like a special tour or program.

The feedback on our cellphone audio tour has been great so far! We urge you to come visit and listen at each station, but if you want to call from home and hear how it works, you can dial 406.952.3024 and press # to start. Pressing 2 will pause or play the audio, *0 will allow you to leave a comment, and the numbers 1 - 15 each represent a different set of facts. Try it sometime and see what you think!

The Education team has some wonderful volunteers this summer, both seasoned and brand new, and we can't thank them enough for their help. Our interns Amy and Kelsey have also done a fabulous job. As summer winds down and the Bear Safe Community Project comes to a close, our hope is to continue to see bear-safe property around town and Bear Safe Community Project decals in business and residential windows. The summer rec kids designed the checklist, action plan, and logo all by themselves (with a little guidance from the interns)!! We look forward to making the lesson plans available to scouting groups, public and private school teachers, and home-schooling networks throughout bear country so that other communities can be Bear Safe too!

If you're interested in visiting the GWDC with your family or with your students, or if you'd like to sponsor a Teaching Trunk or outreach program, let us know. One of the Center's naturalists can visit your school for special assemblies, programs or activities. As you know, some of our birds-of-prey can travel for such programs as can our large collection of wolf and bear artifacts. We will customize the program or the Teaching Trunk for your group and areas of special interest.

The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is pleased to announce our 2nd Annual Autumn Discovery Photography Contest for amateur and professional photographers! The contest will run from September 1st - October 31st, so start planning your fall visit now.

Amateur and professional photographers may submit up to six works in digital format for consideration. The photographs must be taken here at the GWDC of the bears, wolves, and raptors in September or October of this year and available for Center use with photo credit. Extreme photo alteration will not be considered. Deadline for submission is November 1st.

Six winners will be announced and awarded in the following categories: Amateur Bear, Amateur Wolf, and Amateur Raptor photograph, and Professional Bear, Professional Wolf, and Professional Raptor photograph. The winning photographs will be featured in both print and digital format in future newsletters, marketing and fundraising materials, and social media, like right here in email newsletters. For more information, email jenniferh@grizzlydiscoveryctr.com.

Thanks to those who have responded to our summer appeal to build a new den for Grant and Roosevelt and improve the High Country habitat for Leopold. It's amazing to watch your generous and thoughtful gifts come in. Your kindness continues to support these animals and surprise these humans. Thank you so much!

We hope you enjoy this issue, learn a little something, and feel like you are here with us for just a few minutes. It's a pretty special place to be. Have a great couple of weeks and a fantastic summer, and we'll look forward to seeing you soon.

Thanks again for keeping up with us and for all you do.