A World-Leading Research Program For Orphaned Grizzly Cub Rewilding Efforts
HELP ORPHANED GRIZZLY CUBS TODAY
As one of the slowest reproducing land mammals, grizzly bears are among the most vulnerable - iconic - keystone species in North America. The loss of a grizzly bear mother and her cubs from the landscape is a significant impact to the population and the ecosystems they roam. But with your help, there’s hope.
In 2020 the Grizzly Bear Foundation began a multi-year research program to contribute a scientific understanding of orphaned grizzly cub captive rearing and rewilding efforts. Led by Independent Research Scientist Dr. Lana Ciarniello, we are working in partnership with the BC Provincial Government and the Northern Lights Wildlife Society – the one and only wildlife shelter in North America that rescues, cares for, and releases orphaned grizzly bear cubs.
The research objectives are:
(1) To quantitatively examine the post-release survival and reproductive fitness of captive- reared grizzly bears over multiple years, preferably through to reproduction for female bears; and,
(2) To identify the rearing methods that enhance survival probability post-release
WHY REWILDING?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A MOTHER BEAR IS KILLED AND HER ORPHANED CUBS ARE LEFT BEHIND TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES?
When a grizzly mother is tragically killed, their cubs are either lethally removed, sent to zoos, or abandoned with little chance of survival on their own. The loss of grizzlies is both a welfare issue and an ecological issue. Removing a grizzly bear mother and her cubs from the landscape is a significant loss to the population and the ecosystem. Grizzly bears are keystone species – they play a critical role in maintaining the structure and biodiversity of ecosystems. They also have one of the slowest reproductive rates of any mammal in North America, with mature females having only 2-3 cubs every 3-4 years.
The results of this research will be used to inform and update policies regarding the fate of orphaned grizzly cubs and best practices for rewilding efforts in Canada and the United States.
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH GROUSE MOUNTAIN, GRINDER & COOLA
Since 2021, Grouse Mountain and the Grizzly Bear Foundation have come together annually to celebrate Grinder and Coola as conservation ambassadors through the mountaintop "Bear-thday Fun-draiser". This fun-filled celebration features exclusive Bear-thday activities and educational programs to raise awareness and funds for Project Rewild.
At the Peak of Vancouver, five acres of mountainous habitat provide refuge for Grinder and Coola, two grizzly bears tragically orphaned in 2001. At that time, there were no rewilding programs in place for grizzly bears. Orphaned cubs were either lethally removed by Conservation Officers or abandoned with little chance of survival on their own. With the help of Grouse Mountain, Grinder and Coola were rescued from that fate. Learn more about their story here.
"Tragically orphaned at a time when grizzly cubs didn’t have the opportunity for a second chance at life in the wild, Grinder and Coola were offered a mountaintop refuge like no other. Together they have inspired and educated people across the globe to care about grizzly bears and the challenges they face.” - Nicholas Scapillati, Executive Director of the Grizzly Bear Foundation
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH KICKING HORSE MOUNTAIN & BOO
Every year, the Grizzly Bear Foundation teams up for "Bear Awareness Days" with Kicking Horse Mountain Resort to bring awareness to orphaned grizzly bear cubs, raise funds for the research behind Project Rewild, and celebrate Boo’s Birthday! Surrounded by five national parks (Banff, Kootenay, Yoho, Mt Revelstoke, and Jasper), Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, B.C, is where Boo calls home. Boo lives in a 20-acre, 9-hectare wildlife refuge - a licensed & government permitted facility. But he didn’t always live here. Twenty years ago, hundreds of kilometres away from Kicking Horse, Boo entered this world deep in the Cariboo Mountains, alongside his mother and two siblings.
On June 4th, 2002, five months later, Boo’s life changed forever. Boo and his family were foraging alongside a highway, when suddenly a poacher drove up in his car, proceeded to get out, and shot and killed Boo’s mother. The three cubs were suddenly orphans. One of his siblings ran into the woods, never to be found again, and the other two cubs, named after the mountain range in which they were found, Cari and Boo, climbed a nearby tree. The two bear cubs waited for days to hear their mother’s sign that it was safe to come down. It never came. While the man who shot and killed the mother bear was convicted of two B.C. Wildlife Act violations and fined $9000, the fate for Boo and Cari was more ambiguous.
But this time, other plans were brewing for Boo and Cari. While conservation officers attempted to retrieve the cubs from their tree, BC’s Ministry officials contacted Dr. Ken Macquisten and Stuart McLaughlin at the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife in North Vancouver to see if the cubs could be given a second chance at life and a new home. Grouse Mountain agreed, and the baby bears, weighing only 12 pounds each, were flown to Vancouver, BC. They joined two other orphaned grizzly bear cubs at the refuge; Grinder and Coola. In 2003, Boo and his brother Cari were moved from Grouse Mountain to Kicking Horse Mountain Grizzly Bear Refuge, their forever home that was made just for them. Sadly, the following year in 2004, Cari did not wake from his winter hibernation and passed away within his den (of natural causes). Boo continues to live at Kicking Horse in the largest enclosed and protected grizzly bear habitat in the world.
CONSERVATION AMBASSADORS
Cari and Boo, Grinder and Coola, have all helped educate the public on the challenges grizzly bears face and their importance in our ecosystems. We are given a unique insight into bear behaviour and characteristics - they continue to teach people from around the world about how bears forage, play and sleep. Though grizzly bears are not meant to live in captivity, these bears are seen as conservation ambassadors. What we’ve learned from their experience helps future orphaned grizzly bear cubs get a second chance at life in the wild.
Keen to learn more? Tune into GrizzCast for a special podcast episode featuring Grizzly Bear Foundation's Executive Director Nicholas Scapillati and board member Dr. Ken Macquisten, as they meld the past with the present in a “through the lens” approach to wildlife conservation. With a shared hope for flourishing biodiversity, the two discuss unique bear characteristics and acknowledge controversy in the battle to protect the iconic grizzly bear.
HOW YOUR DONATION HELPS
Project Rewild is an innovative and world-leading research program that provides the science and best practices needed to enhance and expand rewilding efforts for orphaned grizzly bears. The findings will inform and update policies regarding the fate of orphaned grizzly bear cubs within British Columbia and beyond.
In partnership with the BC provincial government and Northern Lights Wildlife Society–the only wildlife shelter in North America that rescues and cares for orphaned grizzly bear cubs, our team at the Grizzly Bear Foundation is taking action with Project Rewild. Your contribution goes directly towards:
Innovative research led by renowned IUCN grizzly bear biologist Dr. Lana Ciarniello
Field work for staff, scientists, and veterinarians on the ground to ensure the young bears are safe on their journey back to the wild
Helicopter time to reach remote, safe and productive habitats to give young bears the best chance of surviving life in the wild
State-of-the-art GPS/VHF collars fitted to each bear including redundant drop off systems to ensure their safety. The data gathered provides valuable information that will help future rewilding efforts
Advocacy for this innovative and world-leading work to encourage other provinces and states to support rewilding efforts and end the lethal removal of orphaned cubs
Raising awareness and inspiring action for conservation through storytelling. Sharing individual stories of how and why these cubs were orphaned, helps foster understanding and support for rewilding work and grizzly bear coexistence
100% of your donation will go towards our Project Rewild research and advocacy efforts to ensure orphaned grizzly bear cubs get a second chance at life in the wild.
IN COLLABORATION WITH
Northern Lights Wildlife Society (NLWS) is the only wildlife shelter in North America permitted to raise and release orphaned grizzly bear cubs, and they hold extensive expertise. Over 30 grizzly bears have been rescued and released by NLWS. As a partner in this study, NLWS cares for the orphaned cubs for one year prior to their release, providing food, shelter, medical care, and lots of love. Peter and his passionate and dedicated team work incredibly hard to give wildlife a second chance at life in the wild.
Biologists and veterinarians from the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development: Wildlife Branch provide guidance and support for this project and oversee the cubs' handling and welfare. As well, Ministry of Environment: Conservation Officers manage the capture and release of the cubs.
Photos FEATURED ON THIS PAGE ARE by
Taylor Green, John E Marriott, Connor Stefanison, Nick Quenville, SHAWN TALBOT, GROUSE MOUNTAIN