Suzy and Johnny |
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We are pleased to recognize IFAW as our partner and major sponsor in the Grizzly Bear Project |
Together with our partners IFAW (The International Fund for Animal Welfare) and the BC Ministry of Environment we have created a care and post-release monitoring plan that will help us evaluate and document the success of the grizzly bear rehabilitation project. IFAW is instrumental in providing expertise and financial resources to the project. The BC Ministry of Environment supports the project with expert advice and the necessary permits. With such broad support the project has input from a number of respected experts and is able to provide a well rounded view of all rehab aspects. Besides IFAW's substantial financial support the project is financed through donations to NLWS from both the private and corporate sector and the commitment of a very dedicated volunteer group in both the care and post release efforts. The project does not receive government funding. |
June 2009
The economic crises has unfortunately also effected the shelters funding quite dramatically. We are struggling to cover costs for bear releases and the pick up of young wildlife in need, as well as providing the feed to care for these animals. The post release monitoring has subsequently taken a bit of a back seat in the spending allocation. Previous sponsor organizations have either cut or reduced their funding availability and monies available before from other sources now needs to be raised by us.
We fully intend to hire a plane and pilot to search for Suzy and Johnny, but funding is slow to come in. We would really like to prove that they survived the winter and will continue our efforts to raise the require amounts.
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November 2008
We would like to thank IFAW (The International Fund for Animal Welfare) for providing funds to continue the post release monitoring. Ruth and Joachim, as well as Angelika, where out in the field investigating a signal received from Johnny's collar, indicating that he had died. After anxious days and sleepless nights we could determine that thankfully it was only a collar malfunction. Both bears continue to do well and are now settling down for hibernation. Post monitoring has been switched to aerial flights and will rest for the winter once hibernation sites are determined. Post monitoring will be continued in the spring of 2009. |
Johnny's new home range |
The Team on Top of the world after finding that Johnny had not died |
Dangerous going for the team as they climb up and down mountain sides in their bit to reach Johnny
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Joachim at work searching with the telemetry equipment |
August 2008
Field Crew has to leave bears due to lack of funding!
Joachim and Ruth left the bears alone in the field last week as our financial resources have reached the absolute bottom line. Ongoing costs such as food, gas, vehicle insurance, expansion and maintenance of the bear facility at the shelter and the ongoing care of the two new grizzly cubs Espen and Koda, have by far exceeded the funds raised. Both the volunteers and the shelter operators have used their own savings over the past weeks to keep going, hoping that the received media attention would generate the much needed funds. Unfortunately the anticipated financial support has not come through and the volunteers had to leave the bears alone in the field. NLWS contract with the government clearly states that we have to monitor the bears until Hibernation in the early winter and though we can still follow the bear’s movements via GPS signals, we are missing viable field information now. The start up of hunting season on August 1st, also brought lots of human activity into the bears new home range and Ruth and Joachim spend lots of time talking to hunters about the project.
NLWS and the field crew have now started a 2 week intense fundraising campaign in a bid to be back in the field at the end of these two weeks.
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August 8th Field
Update: It was a successful week, Ruth and Joachim where able
to climb Suzy's mountain and get a clear VHF signal fro her.
Looking at the pictures you can understand that our Lady Bear
shows great taste in choosing her new home. What a breathtaking
scenery. The very satisfying week ended in stress when the Jeep
refused to start for the trip out. We got to test our emergency
plans and we are happy to say that things went smoothly and
that the jeep only required a minor repair and is ready to roll
again. A huge THANK YOU to the Forestry Crew that happened to
come along at the right moment and on top of that had the know-how to get the vehicle going again. A tow truck would have put
a huge hole into our already tight budget, so thanks a lot to
all of them.
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August 1st Field
crew update: We met with Joachim and Ruth in Prince George today
and got a first hand impression on their work. Both are covered
in mosquito bites and have suffered various scratches bruises
and sprains climbing after the cubs over the past 19 days. Nevertheless
they are enthusiastic about their work and have related that
each cub has claimed it's own Mountain top. Climbing the Mountain
to get to see what they are doing their is a slow going project.
Men high Devils club and dense underbrush make for VERY slow
going. Last report was 600 meters in 41/2 hours. Armed with
machetes the team is trying to conquer Suzy's mountain top.
The Highlight of the past days was the footprint found from
Suzy and the viewing of wildlife, such as a real wild lynx.
 
Suzy and Johnny are the first two bears of the "Grizzly Rehab Pilot Project" released back to the wild on July 12th. 2008. The cubs are monitored by our field crew, Joachim Treptow and Ruth Fitzell, who will monitor their activities until hibernation time in the fall of 2008.
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 BBack to Espen and Koda
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Northern Lights Wildlife Society
