Research

Black Bear Program - 2009/2010

This is an incredibly exciting time for Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary and its commitment to orphaned and injured bears.
Through the generosity of Martha Rogers personally and The Rogers Foundation, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary has been awarded a significant donation for research on the rescue, rehabilitation and release of Black Bears. We are truly grateful for this gift which allows Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary the opportunity to continue its Bear Program and the research so desperately needed to educate the public and learn more from these magnificent creatures. Ms. Rogers comments, “Ignorance seems like the worst reason for perpetrating species destruction. Aspen Valley is stemming the flow, but if the rest of us don't educate ourselves about peacefully coexisting with our wildlife then our children will never have a relationship with nature.”
Upon arrival each bear is individually identified, weighed, measured,assessed and treated according to its needs. The animal is monitored on a daily basis, its food is measured for input and output, medical treatment recorded and behaviour documented until such time as it released to our large enclosure. The animals will then be checked daily until hibernation and then on a weekly or on an as needed basis. With the arrival of spring the daily monitoring will begin again to ensure that all the animals awaken and continue their development until such time it is determined that they are safe for release into the wild. They will be released back into their natural environment with radio collars to permit our personnel the opportunity to monitor the bear’s activity in its home environment for a number of years. Researchers have evaluated the data collected in our joint research study with the Northern Environmental Heritage Institute - Cambrian College: "The Survival and Behaviour of Orphaned Black Bear Cubs". Visit the Cambrian College website.

An additional study was prepared by Laurentian University students Allegra Cairns & Sarah Dick. This undergraduate study - a spin-off to the original project - examines the relationship between den selection and body condition of rehabilitated, orphaned and wild black bear yearlings in North Eastern Ontario. Allegra and Sarah have valuable insight to share! Click here to view unique, exciting footage of a yearling cub emerging from its winter den! The camera used to capture this event is not available on the market, but rather it was created by Ivan Filion of Cambian College for this purpose. The camera used was a Digital Video Camera, with an infrared remote. The camera was set out for three weeks prior to the animal emerging. This is the first footage of a wild bear emerging using this technology.

Funding for the equipment for this valuable research on black bears in Ontario was provided by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Click here for more information on the Trillium Foundation.

Support for the bear research project and related educational efforts, had also been granted by the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Conservation Fund. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden encourages its staff to be involved with the conservation of wildlife and wild places throughout the world. The Zoo’s involvement with the bear project was initiated by Zoo staff (Lisa Vollmer - lead bear keeper for the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden's animal care staff) and funded in part by the Zoo Conservation Fund. Today, Lisa Vollmer continues to be a friend and a great resource to Aspen Valley.

Click here for more information on the conservation work the Cincinnati Zoo Conservation Fund is doing throughout the world.