Be “Beary” Aware During Outdoor Adventures!

Next weekend, Sat., Aug. 24 and Sun., Aug. 25, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will host our 25th Annual Teddy Bear Days event from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. During Teddy Bear Days, kids receive a special $5.25 admission price and can participate in our Teddy Bear Clinic. They can also watch demonstrations featuring our three bear species. One of the most popular demonstrations is located in Rocky Mountain Wild, where our grizzly bears, Emmett and Digger, teach guests a thing (or two) about camping with wildlife in mind!

Tips for Camping “Beary” Safely:

• Choose an open site away from dense vegetation, natural food areas, forest cover or natural pathways.
• Avoid messy sites and areas with signs of bears: torn-apart logs, tracks, trampled brush, scat, claw marks on trees.
• Secure all scented items by hanging at least 10 feet off the ground and 5 feet from the tree.
• Restrict all cooking, eating, cleaning activities and food storage to 100 feet downwind from tents.
• Do not sleep outside of your tent or with any "smellables" in your tent, including empty food wrappers.
• Never leave any food scraps or garbage out.
• Wash dishes and utensils immediately - dispose of waste water downwind, 100 feet from sleeping area.
• Always use a flashlight and extra caution when moving around at night.
• Store all food and odorous attractants (including garbage and cooking clothes) in sealed bags or in airtight canister.
• Bear-proof containers for campers are available through the Internet.

During Teddy Bear Days, our animal keepers also use the bear demos to talk about the important difference between encountering a grizzly bear verses a black bear in the wild. If you’re camping or hiking in Colorado, you’re likely going to be seeing black bears. The best thing to do if they become threatening is to stay big, keep your eye on the black bear, make lots of noise and, if they attack, fight back! If you encounter an aggressive grizzly bear, the best thing to do is lie down, cover your neck and do not be threatening to the grizzly at all. Animal keepers agree that whether you are hiking or camping in black bear or grizzly bear country, you should be prepared by carrying bear spray, bear bells and always be bear aware by keeping a watchful eye on your surroundings. 

Our bears can’t wait to see you at Teddy Bear Days next weekend to teach you a lot more about bear care, bear facts and bear safety, but in the meantime be “beary” safe!

Fact source: The American Bear Association

Save the lives of wild orangutans with the NEW Sustainable Palm Oil Shopping Guide App for smartphones!

You can save wild orangutans, and other endangered Asian animals affected by the palm oil crisis, by using your smartphone! This new FREE downloadable smartphone application lists more than 5,000 products whose manufacturers are certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Purchasing products from these companies saves orangutan habitat and lives.

"Palm oil is used to make items we consume every day like food and personal care products," Dina Bredahl, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Animal Care Manager and champion of the Zoo's palm oil awareness conservation program, said. "Purchasing products that are manufactured by RSPO member companies is the easiest thing we can do to help endangered wild orangutans." 

Palm oil comes from the fruit of the African oil palm. The majority of this edible vegetable oil is produced inBorneo and Sumatra. When harvested unsustainably it destroys critical rainforest habitat. 

One organization that seeks to implement global standards for sustainable palm oil is the RSPO. To achieve certification, members must meet stringent environmental and social criteria and protect native wildlife, like orangutans, elephants, tigers and rhinos.

In 2011, CheyenneMountain Zoo was the first zoo in the world to join the RSPO. Even before joining, the Zoo created a paper shopping guide that listed RSPO company members. The popularity of the shopping guide led the Zoo's palm oil team in the direction of creating the smartphone shopping guide application.

Make a difference for wild orangutans with three easy steps:

1. Shop smart! Boycotting palm oil is not the solution. Instead, download the NEW Palm Oil Shopping Guide Phone App, and buy products from companies that are members of the RSPO.
2. Speak out! If you don't see your favorite brand in the Palm Oil Shopping Guide, send the company an email to tell them how important sustainable palm oil is.
3. Spread the word! Check out Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's full Palm Oil Resource Kit, and share it with others.