Fortress of the Bear Sitka Alaska

I've had bears on my mind this week. Why? Well I was lucky enough to live in Jackson Wyoming for about 10 years. During that time I was in the right place at the right time a few times and was able to view the famous Grizzly 399 with her cubs. This famous bear has her own social media accounts including a very good one on Instagram. 

When you are out and about in the nearby parks, Grand Teton or Yellowstone or anywhere really you need to be aware that you are in bear country. You should be doing things to keep yourself safe but in my mind more importantly you should do things to keep the bears safe. Number one thing for the bear's safety is to cut off any sources of  easy to get human food. A bear who gets used to easy picking of our foods tends to get in trouble with humans and can get aggressive. Those bears usually get euthanized. That is what happened recently to one of 399's daughters. These deaths are not the bear's fault, the blame lies with the people who gave the bears an easy food source that of course they wanted more and more of.

Okay off soapbox now.

During our Alaskan cruise with Holland America this summer we had the opportunity to go to the Fortress of the Bear in Sitka Alaska.  Their mission statement says, "We provide protection and care to rescued animals in an enriching, educational environment." This nonprofit relies entirely on donations and merchandise sales for to cover operating expenses. They are currently caring for 8 bars.

I found more information on their website.

Bears ruled Alaska long before fishermen, gold miners, or cruise ships arrived. As their territory has diminished, more and more bear cubs have become orphaned and sick. The state of Alaska has no bear rehabilitation program in place, and unfortunately orphaned cubs are routinely shot by the Department of Fish and Game for lack of an alternative. Until now. At Fortress of the Bear, our mission is to rescue cubs, bring them back to health and provide a long life full of enrichment.  

Our rescue center opened in 2007, and now houses 8 bears. More than 20,000 visitors per year come to experience the majesty of these amazing creatures. We’ve sent bears to the Bronx Zoo, Montana Grizzly Encounter and the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Boyd, Texas. Our goal is to work with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game to someday release rehabbed bears back into the wild. As a 501(C)3 not-for-profit organization, we rely solely on admission fees and donations for funding. 

I know this is not a perfect system since the bears aren't in the wild but the work they do is better than killing more of these magnificent creatures. The mountain west and Alaska  are bear country and we are the intruders so the least we can do is live in a way that allows us to coexist that keeps us all safe. You can take a quick peek at what I saw and took pictures of during my visit to Fortress of the Bear this summer.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Knitting for Me

I got a lovely yarn while on our Alaskan cruise a while back. It is a very fine, pretty hand dyed yarn from Raven Frog Fibers of Sitka, Alaska. I am making a crescent shaped scarf with it. I tried and frogged a couple lace patterns with this yarn. I haven't ever knit at such a fine gauge and old eyes had trouble keeping track of the stitches and the pattern, so simple garter it is. The blue, white and gray will go nicely with so much of what I wear.

I would also like to note that I love the way blogger can use the pictures on my phone. This feature may have been around awhile if you have an Android phone but I just discovered it this week. Gotta love the Google!

Juneau Whale Watching

One of the best happenings on our cruise to Alaska was in Juneau. We got to go on a short whale watching trip. During the trip we were able to see orcas, seals, and otters and of course whales. Most of the trip I just watched. The animals were hard to get in a picture since they were always on the move. I did however get this small video of a humpback whale getting ready to dive and eat. 

Seeing the real thing in person is always better than a nature show.

Have a great weekend everyone. See you again on Monday.

Just Heard About

I just heard that Sarah Palin is stepping down as the governor of Alaska. I found the news a bit amusing. The reasoning stated is so that she would not waste the state's money doing lame duck travel and other useless junkets. Come on Sarah, just don't go huh? She also says she wants to work on changing things in this country from outside the "bloodsport" of politics. Well we all know that Mrs. Palin has no public speaking fear. I do wonder who will be paying for her to travel all over working on this change while she prepares to reenter the "bloodsport" to run for president which we all know she will do. One more thing Sarah, how will you supposedly be able to spend more time with your family while becoming the main poster child for the Republican Party? Wouldn't staying in Alaska as governor make that easier?