The Wild Animal Sanctuary​ is a great place!

The Wild Animal Sanctuary​ is a great place! If you ever get the chance to support their mission I encourage you to do so.

Originally shared by The Wild Animal Sanctuary

Hi Everyone,

I am writing to you today to provide an update on Little Ricky the female Black Bear we recently rescued from Jim Mack’s Ice Cream shop. I received a number of communications from concerned people like yourself, and wanted to give you the latest update.

I would like to thank you for caring enough to check on her condition, as well as for anything you may have done to help attain her release. Ricky was definitely in need of help, and the actions of many people brought about a very positive solution for her. The Wild Animal Sanctuary is glad to be able to provide a new home for Ricky, and we can promise you she will enjoy her new life here in Colorado.

The Sanctuary has over 150 rescued Black, Brown and Grizzly Bears living here, and all have come from very severe confinement conditions. All of these Bears have made the transition from being kept in horrendous confinement, and many were starved or abused in other ways – yet each has successfully recovered and gone on to live happy and very fulfilling lives.

Little Ricky made the trip from PA to CO very well, as she rode in our temperature-controlled rescue trailer and spent most of the time laying comfortably. Once she arrived, Ricky was placed into an “introduction enclosure” which is a relatively small pen that sits within a 15 acre Black Bear Habitat. The reason we do this has to do with a specially-formulated rehabilitation process.

Bears like Ricky that have lived by themselves their whole lives need time to make a number of adjustments.

(1) she needs to feel safe the second she comes out of the trailer and sees her new surroundings.

(2) she needs to realize the introduction enclosure is similar to the environment she came from (size and shape) as that helps reduce the amount of new and unfamiliar items she has to process – and helps her realize the space is small enough to not leave her vulnerable.

(3) she needs to see, hear, smell and generally take-in the sights, sounds, smells and other senses that help her evaluate her new home.

(4) Ricky needs to spend a number of days in this environment so she realizes she has plenty of food, water and personal care, so that she understands she does not have to compete for these essential items.

All of the rescued animals that come here need three critical items addressed in order for them to enjoy being in each other’s company – as these are the three most important items that cause issues for animals living in the wild. 

(A) has to do with food, as Bears normally need upwards of a hundred square miles to survive in harsh conditions - so they carve out territory and defend their space accordingly – as they can’t afford to live together when there isn’t enough food. However, when there is ample food (like when the Salmon run) you will see many Bears being comfortable being near each other since they have plenty of food to share.

(B) has to do with space, as Bears need to know they have enough space to be able to distance themselves from each other if they get the urge to be alone. This is why our habitats are anywhere from 15 to 25 acres in size, so each Bear can have its own den and plenty of room to not feel crowded or forced to be near others.

(C) has to do with breeding, as Bears and other wild animals compete for breeding rights and self-perpetuation. This is why we neuter all male Bears that come in, so they no longer compete for breeding opportunities with the females.

Once we have these three main issues addressed, all of our animals (including Tigers, Mountain Lions, Leopards and other normally-solitary animals) feel very comfortable living together. Of course we keep Black Bears with other Black Bears and do not mix them with Browns or Grizzlies… and we choose which ones will go in certain habitats based on age, sex, and other factors – so they can create a harmonious family. 

So, for Little Ricky, her rehabilitation program will include spending a week or two in the introduction enclosure so that she has the time to get used to the sights and sounds of her new home… gets used to the idea there is plenty of food (more than she could ever finish)… and that all of the other Bears that live in that habitat have enough time to come introduce themselves to her (which many have done already).

Ricky is acting very comfortable already, and has already started to play inside her den and is enjoying rearranging her straw & grass bedding. She has been nose-to-nose with a number of female Bears that came to greet her (through the fence)… and is eating lots of fruits, vegetables, meats and sweet treats.

At this point, the main thing we are looking for is signs of her choosing to go into hibernation, as most Bears we rescue near or during winter will become comfortable with their new home during the first couple weeks of arriving, and will start to get sleepy and actually begin hibernating. Many factors play into this option, as the Bear’s weight is a critical piece – since they need enough body fat to make it through a prolonged sleep - and the weather is another factor, as it needs to be cold and snowy to help evoke this instinct.

So far, we have had a lot of warmer weather here in CO, so there is a chance Ricky may not go into hibernation. That’s OK, as it won’t affect anything for her long-term happiness or comfort, and she will be fine staying awake so she can continue to adapt.

If she chooses to remain awake, Ricky will be released into the habitat once we feel she is completely comfortable. This process involves our staff opening the door to her enclosure, but not forcing her to come out. We always allow the Bears to come out at their own pace.

Usually, the Bear will come out and explore areas very close to their introduction enclosure (which they now consider home base), and will slowly extend their exploration trips further day-by-day. They will also meet other bears without the fence between them, and if they feel the need, they can always go back to their enclosure to gain a sense of comfort and safety.

These scenarios of expanding their horizons go on for weeks, and eventually, the Bear feels perfectly comfortable in all areas of the habitat. This is when we start to see new relationships forming, and Ricky will no-doubt find a few new friends in the bunch that she likes. She will begin playing with these Bears and start to enjoy having the comradely, as well as the added activity of playing and wrestling (which bears love to do).

Eventually, by spring, Ricky will have abandoned her introduction enclosure (and den) and will have picked another den as her own somewhere within the habitat. Sometimes Bears like to sleep with others, and will share a den, and others chose to be alone. It’s up to Ricky to decide, and we always make sure there are plenty of dens for the Bears so they don’t have to share if they don’t want to.
In the long-term, Ricky will gain lots of muscle from the added exercise she will get from covering much larger areas and playing with other Bears… and will start to cycle like all the other Bears – meaning she will cycle her eating habits and sleep cycles to include a full hibernation event each winter.

Thanks to many people and the ALDF, Ricky will be able to live out the rest of her life in a much more natural space. Many people ask about our habitats, as they usually expect Colorado to be nothing but trees, mountains and lots of snow – but in reality – we are located on the plains of CO. This means we have lots of open grass fields with ponds, lakes and some trees - just not as many as one would see in the mountains. Regardless of not being located in higher elevations, it’s important for people to know that Bears once covered most of the United States, and many lived in areas similar to ours and fully enjoyed their lives on the open plains.

Our Bears absolutely enjoy their lives here, and we make sure they have plenty of amenities to interact with, and enjoy. Ricky will be able to thrive here, and we want to thank you again for caring enough to ask about her condition. Our facility is open 7 days a week to visitors, and our elevated walkways help protect the sovereignty of our rescued animals’ domain, yet give visitors the ability to see the animals enjoying their new lives. If you are ever in CO, you are welcome to stop in and hopefully see Ricky from our elevated observation system.

Thank you again for caring, and I hope this communication has answered any questions or concerns you may have had.

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