Wilderness Wildlife Week, an annual event for outdoor aficionados and wildlife enthusiasts, was held from January 8th to 15th in Pigeon Forge TN. Appalachian Bear Rescue was well represented at this weeklong event and attracted the attention and interest of the hundreds of people who attended the programs. We had a display table in the Exhibit Hall. Here are some of the volunteers who staffed the table, talking to visitors about ABR and bears.
Albert, Jamie, Janet, Joey, Kathy, and Anne
Displays included a photo board, bear fur, bear skull, track casts, claw models, and several scat samples. Visitors were invited to take brochures and other handouts. One of the highlights in our display was a video slideshow of bears in the Smoky Mountains, produced by Chuck Cooper, another ABR volunteer. Here he is with his slideshow, which ran continuously and attracted plenty of attention.
Photographer Chuck Cooper
In addition to the display table, ABR was represented by volunteers who presented programs during the week. There was a program about Appalachian Bear Rescue and what we do, a program about coexistence with bears, one on bear ecology, and 2 hands-on programs for children to learn about bears.
If you missed Wilderness Wildlife Week this year, plan on attending in 2012. The dates for next year are already set: January 7-14. We’ll hope to see you there!