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NC ZOO CELEBRATES GRIZZLY BEARS
BY: Tom GillespieJun. 12, 2008
ASHEBORO, N.C.--The North Carolina Zoo will hold the second of four June weekend celebrations of bears Saturday, June 14, in the park. This weekend’s bear event will feature grizzlies and will be highlighted with keeper talks and information stations.
Entertainment will be provided by the musical group Glendon at 2 p.m. in the North America Plaza. The group is returning for only the second time after performing for a Zoo Telethon in 1977.
Zoo visitors can meet bear keepers at 10:30 a.m. and at 1:30 p.m. at the grizzly exhibit. Also, there will be an information station throughout the day at the exhibit, featuring artifacts and a zoo volunteer to answer questions.
At the new “kidZone” exhibit in the North America region, kids can learn while having fun with special bear activities.
The zoo’s two grizzly bears, both males, were considered “nuisance” bears before they arrived, one in November 1994 from Wyoming and one in February 1995 from southwest Montana. Male nuisance bears are usually captured two times and relocated; however, if they are caught a third time, they are usually placed in zoos or euthanized. These two were fortunate that the N.C. Zoo had the space available for them; others are not so lucky.
The zoo’s June 14 event will feature black bears and bees and give special discounted admissions to all dads on Father’s Day. The following June 21-22 event will be highlighted with a Teddy Bear Fair, at which visitors can bring their teddy bears for a check-up with zoo veterinarians.
Visitors can get more information on each June weekend activity at the zoo Web site: http://www.nczoo.org/.
The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary; Michael F. Easley, Governor.