Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
March 31, 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!
Sam
Sam
Around The Center
What's Happening at the GWDC
 
We are enjoying hints of spring here at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center! The days are getting longer, the snow is beginning to melt, and there's a scent of green in the air, if that makes any sense. We hope you are enjoying spring wherever you are, and whatever it means to you. Azaleas? Spring Break? Maybe picnics or campfires or mini-vacations? Be safe and have fun, and come see us if you can! Our hours will change April 18th, when we will begin staying open until 6:00 pm. Remember we always open at 8:30 am, and as the days get longer we will extend our closing time accordingly. 

As we anticipate warmer weather, more daylight, more secure footing, and more visitors, we are looking forward to several exciting developments. We will be introducing Sam to another bear in the outdoor habitat as conditions improve. We will also be introducing the public to several new exhibits and programs this summer. We will have new birds-of-prey on exhibit in the outdoor aviaries, and we will roll out the new amphitheater for programs and events. Stay tuned here for all our news and updates!
 
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.

Kootenai
Kootenai Rolling in Scent
  Bears, Wolves, and Birds
(Oh My!)
Animal Updates

The introduction of Summit and Leopold to their new outdoor habitat has gone so well it's old news by now. They have settled right in, and are easy to see from the outdoor viewing areas. Adjacent to the High Country pack between the museum and the Naturalist Cabin, this third pack of wolves has added an interesting new experience for visitors and interpreters to observe and discuss.
 
Carcass feeds are over until next winter. With wild grizzly bears emerging from hibernation and our stock of donated elk and deer carcasses depleted, it's a natural time to switch back to smaller and more frequent feedings and enrichment for the wolves. We have also introduced new scents to our wolf enrichment, which you can see above and read more about here.
 
The bears and birds are doing well. Longer days bring heightened appetites, and we adjust diets and schedules accordingly. Toys, enrichment, and changes such as these that benefit the animals make the days until summer pass quickly.

 

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... 

 
Jago
Jago
 Education 
Knowledge Is a Powerful Tool 
   
The Education team has been busy this month with tours, guests, outreach programs, the West Yellowstone After School program, Kids N Snow events, and much more. Just last week Trent and Amy, an intern from last summer, presented the Bear-Safe Community Project at the annual Montana Environmental Education Association (MEEA) Conference. 

It's an exciting time of year for the Education crew. Interns for the coming summer are currently being interviewed. International Migratory Bird Day has been announced for May 17th, and the entire month of May is already filled to the brim with group tours, school visits, outreach programs, and rolling out new programs here at the center. 

 

One of the most exciting features the Education staff will introduce this summer is the new "Living with Bears on Easy Street" exhibit. This outdoor interpretive trail will include a front porch, compost pile, garden of plants bears are attracted to, chicken coop with LIVE chickens(!), demonstration beehives, and more - all ways of showing visitors how to safely (and NOT so safely) coexist with wildlife in bear country. This new area will be fun and eye-opening for all ages. We hope you'll come see what we have in store for you and your family!

 
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, and adding programs to our roster. We will customize the program or the Teaching Trunk for your group and areas of special interest.  

 

15th
Celebrating 15 Years as a Not-For-Profit!
Developments
New and Exciting Opportunities to Support the GWDC
 
2014 marks our 15th year as a nonprofit organization, and we're gearing up for quite a celebration! We hope you'll join us throughout the year for a couple special events, and a fun summer of remembering our first 15 years and getting ready for our next 15 years! We are planning an online auction later this year, along with a 15th Anniversary Matching Gift Campaign. You'll see more here as we get this party started. We hope you'll celebrate with us! We couldn't have done it without you and we hope you'll join in the festivities.

Thanks for ALL you do to help the GWDC. Your support makes a world of difference to the animals here, and to the work we do. We hope to hear from you and see you soon.

 

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

M Polkowske
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 Kimberly Shields, Mike Polkowske, and Susan Pedrick 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 March has to offer, and we'll look forward to seeing you soon.

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

Sincerely,
Spirit with Ball
Spirit with Ball

The GWDC Staff
Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
 
Gift Shop
Happenings

 
The Gift Shop is sprucing up for summer and adding more items for you! We are preparing a new riparian section that will feature all sorts of river species and souvenirs, like river otters and trout, and gifts featuring river-themed artwork. In fact, the riparian gifts are HERE! Proceeds from these pieces will go directly to building our Banks of the Madison River Exhibit. You can learn a lot while you shop as well, by watching our Riparian DVD and viewing the informational materials we will have on display here in the Gift Shop.  

We are glad to welcome Katherine Newville from Kentucky as a full time seasonal staff member and Casey Dunn from Idaho as a part-time seasonal member of our Gift Shop and Admissions team.  We are excited to have them join us!

 

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!  
Gift Shop
New Riparian Gifts Are Here!