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The Mountain View Grizzly Bear Story - "Bringing Our Bear Home"

3 Mar

The Mountain View Grizzly Bear Story – “Bringing Our Bear Home”

Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)

Age: over 23 years old Weight: 259 kgs (571 lbs)

Taxidermist: Dave Nelson, Foothills Taxidermy,Mountain View, Alberta.

Captured south of Mountain View, Alberta. August 31, 2007 by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development – Fish and Wildlife Division.


This old majestic grizzly bear lived on the Mountain View community landscape for many years. It started preying on livestock as a result of old age and poor health. Realizing this grizzly bear would have a limited chance of survival if relocated; it was euthanized by Fish and Wildlife Officers.

Recognizing an opportunity to provide education about bears, the Mountain View School and Cardston County partnered to ensure permanent home for this magnificent grizzly bear! Today, the Mountain View Grizzly Bear story inspires students and visitors to the Mountain View School. Serving as a reminder that wildlife and people can co-exist on this landscape and that we all have an important role to play in helping keep bears wild!

Come join us at the Mountain View School as we unveil our “Mtn. View Grizzly”.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2010
The Taxidermy was done by Dave Nelson. BelAir Construction did the renovations in the school library to accommodate the bear.

With Proceeds from Mtn. View school, County of Cardston, Westwind school Division and Community Initiative Program, the bear is finally here!

An outline of the day has been included, so feel free to come to part or all of the celebration.
Parents with preschoolers are more than welcome to go from station to station, but parents will need to stay with them and share supplies with school age children.

Included in our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 11:30 will be
Minister of Sustainable Resource Development – Mel Knight
Mel Knight’s assistant, Warren Singh
MLA – Broyce Jacobs
Cardston County Representative – Randy Janisko
Board Members Representative – Darcy Barfus
Superintendent of Schools – Doug Bennett
Fish & Wildlife Representatives – Lyle Lester
- Wendy Aupers
- Egon Larson
- Cheryl Trapp
- Kirk Olchowy

8:15 Station 1 Collars,Darts, Snares, Equipment used by Wildlife Officers Egon Larson
8:45 Station 2 Tracks and casting of tracks, possible use of Making Tracks Kit for younger students (play dough). Wendy Aupers
9:15 Station 3 Bear Awareness and Bear Safety, will cover I.D. and people/bear behaviour Lyle & Ken
9:45 Station 4 Bear Smart Trailerwolf, cougar, brown black bear, wolverine, fur kit
10:15 karelian bear dog demo Kirk Olchowy
11:30 Ribbon Cutting
12:00 LUNCH (PROVIDED) Browse look at students work in hallways etc.
12:45 GRADE K-3 NED THE BEAR LYLE/CHERYL
12:45 GRADE 4-9 GYM ACADEMIC SHOWCASE