 Bear Sightings Expected To Increase In NW Parks
National park visitors sometimes see brown bears in the blueberry bushes, crossing park roads, and just ducking out of sight before they snap that perfect bear photo. This summer in the Pacific Northwest, however, park visitors may be surprised to see a bear standing outside a visitor center answering questions at a press conference!
Teddy the Park Bear, National Parks Conservation Association’s 6-foot mascot, is coming out of the woods to visit national parks here in the northwest and speak out, with the aid of an interpreter of course, about his concerns — disappearing salmon, fewer park rangers, washed out trails and bridges, smog, and unattended coolers at campsites (his favorite!). Named after America’s favorite conservationist President, Theodore Roosevelt, NPCA’s bear will be accompanied by a team of volunteers ready to educate thousands of park visitors about threats to Northwest national parks, such as Crater Lake, Fort Vancouver, and North Cascades.
Back in Seattle at NPCA’s Parks Information Center and Gallery, visitors can learn about some of our treasured parks by tracking Teddy’s trail and hearing stories of people who live, work and play in parks.
Teddy needs some help getting support for parks, help with saying no to countless “handouts” and getting to the parks, because, let’s face it…bears aren’t good drivers. If you would like volunteer with our Tracking Teddy Project this summer, please contact NPCA’s Volunteer Coordinator, Shane Farnor, at 206.903.1444 x24 or sfarnor@npca.org.
|
|
|
