Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
January 29, 2014
DISCOVERY
News from The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
In This Issue
Around the Center
Bears, Wolves, and Birds
Education
Developments
Eye Candy
Quick Links

Hello and welcome!

Thanks for dropping in to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, a not-for-profit, AZA-accredited wildlife park and educational facility, with a diverse crew of staff and volunteers. We're glad you're here with us, and we hope to see you in person soon. 

 

As usual, there's a lot going on in this issue. Enjoy the photos and the news. Get to know our amazing cast of characters, and share us with your friends. Please come visit us right here in West Yellowstone, relax and watch the animals, and participate in one of our interactive programs and displays. Until then we wish you all the best. We hope we can bring a little discovery and excitement your way. See you soon!
Spirit and Roosevelt
Spirit and Roosevelt
Around The Center
What's Happening at the GWDC

Have you missed us? Were you wondering where those great photos of all your favorite animals disappeared to? We have good news for you! In an effort to keep our email newsletter a treat and to make sure it's actually newsworthy, we're going to send it monthly in 2014, instead of every 2 weeks. You probably didn't notice one less message in your Inbox this January. If this change is disappointing to you, or if you start longing for more pictures and up-to-the-minute information, we encourage you to visit our Facebook page, where you will always find something beautiful and inspiring to look at and read about. Please keep an eye out for email news at the end of every month this year.

Thanks to each and every one of you who contributed to Christmas for the Critters, who dropped off a Christmas tree, who shopped from the Amazon Wish List, who bought wine from BenefitWines.com, and who gave a special year-end gift to the Center. You didn't just make our day - you made our holidays and our year! 
 
Remember if you have any questions, or just want to know more about any aspect of the Center, you can always give us a call at 406.646.7001, reply to this newsletter, or email
info@grizzlydiscoveryctr.com. We will try to keep you informed and up to date in as many ways as we can. Your involvement and interest in what we do keeps us doing it! We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Thanks again for tuning in.

Roosevelt
Roosevelt
Bears, Wolves, and Birds
(Oh My!)
Animal Updates
 
As you can see, just because we get a little snow, things don't stop around here. We had another great round of container testing a couple weeks ago, and will continue to offer the bears this sort of enrichment again in the spring. 
 
We had an interesting conversation on Facebook earlier this month about why we only feed elk and deer carcasses to the wolves in the wintertime. You may already know this, but during the winter months, our wolf enrichment program consists of offering the packs  rib cages and carcasses that are donated by local hunters. We only do this now because in the summer, they could be a potential wild bear attractant. Throughout the whole year, the wolves receive their main diet of elk & deer meat inside the buildings during the 'Wolf Enrichment' which happens about once a day per pack. In the summer, the wolves are given small bones as enrichment in their habitats. They quickly gnaw on and eat all of the meat off of these small bones. With the carcasses, it takes the wolves longer to clean off all of the meat, so in the summer the smell of the meat in the heat would attract other wildlife. And we certainly do NOT want that to happen!

 

Stay tuned and we'll keep you posted on the reason we're all here - the animals! Remember to check out our webcams when you're wondering what's going on around at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center or wanting to stay connected until your next visit. Every issue of our email newsletter will have updates on the animals, and we will still be sending quarterly newsletters through the mail. We hope you'll stay tuned and please come visit us soon.

  Check out our wolves... 

McKinley
McKinley
Education 
Knowledge Is a Powerful Tool 
   
The Education crew has been busy with Kids In Snow programs, a free birds-of-prey program at the Chamber of Commerce, and the weekly After-School program. They are also getting new computers up and running for the museum.

 

Work is currently underway on our Winter Speaker Series as well, and we will have more information about the National Park Rangers, topics, times and dates soon. Stay tuned here!

 
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 are currently adding materials to our Teaching Trunks (Thanks Kelly!), and adding programs to our roster. We will customize the program or the Teaching Trunk for your group and areas of special interest.  

 

Grant
Grant
Developments
New and Exciting Opportunities to Support the GWDC
 
How are those New Year's Resolutions coming? We're a month in now, just about the time convenient excuses and roadblocks start popping up. Don't give up! We believe in you! No matter what you decided this new year should bring, keep up the good work. 
 
We are keeping up the good work, and will tell you more about it in our upcoming Annual Report, which will be published in our March Howls & Growls Newsletter! We are excited about our accomplishments in 2013 and our goals for 2014. None of this would be possible without you, and we look forward to sharing our progress and our success with you.
 
As you look ahead this year, please consider the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center as your charity of choice and help make a difference in the lives of the animals today and beyond by designating us in your estate planning. Visit our website or contact us for more information about Planned Giving.
 
Your support makes a world of difference to the animals here at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center. We hope to hear from you and see you soon.

 

Keep reading about other ways to support the GWDC... 

Akela and Kootenai
Akela and Kootenai
Eye Candy
Photographs and Artwork from the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

We are honored to have many artists and photographers visit and support the GWDC. Their vision and talents inspire and enliven our work here, so we thought it would be nice to feature some of their work in every issue of our newsletter. If you'd like to see your artwork here, send us an image! Paintings, sculptures, and mixed media are welcome too.

Our thanks to Gretchen Heine and Mike Polkowske for this week's eye-catching photographs. We don't blame you if you just look at the pictures! Everyone knows they speak louder than all these words. Enjoy!
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 month and enjoy all the holidays February brings, and we'll look forward to seeing you soon.

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

Sincerely,
Sow 101
Beautiful 101

The GWDC Staff
Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
 
Gift Shop
Happenings

 
Greetings from the Gift Shop! It's been a busy 2014 so far! We're busy getting ready for you to drop by, ask some questions, and have an unforgettable time with us.

We have exciting changes coming your way this year. Look for a special Riparian section here in the Gift Shop, featuring information, souvenirs, and gift items all about river otters, water birds, amphibians, and trout! Proceeds from these items will not only benefit the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, they will go directly to building our new exhibit! Come be part of the greatest new habitat yet, and be sure to visit all the amazing animals and displays. We can't wait to see you.

We are beginning the hiring process for summer seasonal positions in Admissions and Gift Shop. Full-time and Part-time (20-25 hours/week) positions are available. If you are interested or know someone who would like to spend a season here, please call the Center at 406.646.7001 and ask for Oly, or email resumes to olyw@grizzlydiscoveryctr.com.

 

Thank you for supporting and shopping at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center! Don't forget to shop online until you can visit us again. We'll see you soon!  
New Riparian Artwork
New Riparian Artwork Coming Soon!