The Bear Facts

1. At the non-profit Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in Yellowstone, Montana, the bears have a job. They test coolers and other containers to ensure that the products are both bear proof and not harmful to bears. Have you ever found yourself wondering how coolers and other containers were determined to be "bear proof?"

2. In Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, bears who are deemed a threat to humans or property are sent to "Polar Bear Jail." Since 1982 The Polar Bear Holding Facility in Churchill has been used to isolate dangerous or troublesome bears until they can be relocated. This is definitely a better solution than shooting the animals as had been done in the past. Were you aware of Churchill's Polar Bear Holding Center prior to this survey?

3. Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska is home to some of the world's largest brown bears. Because weight is a predictor of a bear's success and readiness for hibernation, the bears are monitored. In 2014 Ranger Mike Fitz created a March Madness style bracket allowing people to vote for their favorite fat bear each September. Have you ever voted for your favorite bear during the Fat Bear Week? (Pictured: Bear 32 aka "Chunk" the 2025 winner who weighs in at roughly 1,000 lbs.)