Orphan Brown Bear Cub Finds Refuge at
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
(Portage) July 14, 2006
A female orphaned brown bear cub that was rescued by an Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist and an Alaska State Trooper will make her public debut at her temporary home - the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center this week. She will be brought to her permanent home at the Minnesota Zoo at the end of next year.
'Sadie,' the recently rescued female grizzly cub from Kotzebue, began her story with humans on June 18th, 2006, when several people observed her south of the town. The following evening the biologist looked for the cub but couldn't find her. People love it when a 5-month old cub outwits the local Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist.
The next evening the cub was located at the entrance to the Kotzebue landfill but again her mother was no where in sight. The area south of Kotzebue was searched during the next several evenings to try to find the cubs' mother. A sow looking for her cub that close to a town could pose a threat to people, and biologists needed to know if there was any chance the cub could be reunited with her mother. Grizzly sows are generally wonderful mothers and it would have taken something drastic to separate them. After several nights of searching the biologist was certain the cub was an orphan.
The State Troopers captured the cub after receiving reports that children were chasing it with 4-wheelers. Trooper John Brown and his wife Mary gave up their kitchen for 5 days to care for the cub while transport was arranged.
Sadie got her name from Sadie Creek, a small creek just south of town near the landfill. Similarly, Hugo - another female grizzly at AWCC that originated as a cub from Kotzebue several years ago - took her name from the creek where she was found, crippled by porcupine quills.
At this time, Sadie is inquisitive, healthy, playful, eating well and weighs about 35 pounds.
The staff at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is keeping a close watch on the cubs. In approximately 18 months, the cubs will call Minnesota their new home following completion of the Russia's Grizzly Coast exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo, set to open in 2008.
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) is the only center of its kind in Alaska. Located in the Portage valley at the head of Turnagain Arm's rugged mountainous coast, AWCC's 140-acre refuge is approximately 40 minutes from Anchorage, Alaska's most populous city.
AWCC works closely with state and federal agencies to provide year-round wildlife emergency treatment and rehabilitation strategies. The Center's public education offerings utilize interpreters trained to deliver wildlife education programs concentrating on Alaska's native species. AWCC's exhibits include wood and plains bison, moose, elk, caribou, black and grizzly bears, musk ox, Sitka Black-tailed deer, lynx, coyotes, foxes, and birds of prey. Special attention is given to each exhibit to maintain the natural habitat of each species.
Staff will be available on Wednesday to assist in questions, interviews and photo opportunities.
HOURS AND PRICES
Operating Hours
May 15 - September 13: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (no entry after 7:30 p.m.)
September 14 - April 9: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (no entry after 4:30 p.m.)
General Admission
Adults $7.50
Children 4-12 $5.00
Children under 4 FREE
Senior 55+ $5.00
Military (Active - with ID) $5.00
Contact:
Diana Weinhardt
Dir. Conservation and Wildlife Programs
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
P.O. Box 949
Portage, AK 99587
907.230.0982
www.alaskawildlife.org
4710 Business Park Blvd., Ste. 18
Anchorage, AK 99503
Tel: (907) 336-8595
Fax: (907) 336-8596
