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Doing the difficult work for bears
It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. This week is Bear Awareness Week, and here in Bellingham, we are celebrating as only Bellingham can, with lots of local flare, community involvement, and a little goofiness to boot. Never one to shy from a challenge, I head into the wilds of downtown in search of something special.
I was on vacation this past Thursday when Conservation Northwest gathered county leaders, bear and beer fans, and Conservation Northwest supporters to kick of Bear Awareness Week by tapping a keg of Grizzly Brown Cask-Conditioned Ale at Bellingham's local favorite, Boundary Bay Brewery. Since I missed the fun of people in fake fur bear heads gleefully sipping this popular brew, I decided to celebrate Bear Awareness Week with you, our fabulous blog readers. To this end, some other staff and I will take on the oh-so-difficult task of trying as many of the local Bear Awareness Week specials around town as we possibly can, and let you know how it all goes, plus share with you some of our work to restore grizzly bears in the North Cascades!
You are welcome to join in the bear awareness goodness. There are events and local specials in Whatcom, Skagit, and Okanogan counties all week, culminating in Bellingham's Groovin' for Grizzlies on Friday. Send me a photo of you enjoying a bearilicious special, and I'll post it!
Be forewarned, the bear puns are fast and furious this week!
Monday
Erin and Joe venture out for a grizzly grinder. The Grizzly Grinder at Seven Loaves Pizza was such a hit after last year's Bear Awareness Week that they kept it on the menu year-round. This is a bear of a sandwich, created especially by owner and master baker Mike Lane, not for the faint of heart!
An interesting fact to ponder while you hold on to this massive sandwich with both paws...The grizzly bear's claws are used mainly for digging roots.
I emerge from my den for lunch. Banditos Burrito's yummy veggie bearrito with special sauce hit the spot!
Did you know? Grizzly bears are omnivores with a typical diet of less than 10% fish or meat, and much of that is carrion from winter-killed deer and elk. Grizzly bears in coastal areas are an exception; for these bears, fish (salmon) comprise a larger proportion of their diet.
Ali searches out an energy fix. Ali felt like she was about to go into hibernation, so she headed to the Black Drop Coffeehouse for a sweet honey latte. She said, "Now I know why bears love honey!"
Yes, Ali, bears do like honey, but they like the protein-rich bee larvae inside the beehive better. Honey is an extra treat!
Bad news for grizz? Scientists are recording that some grizzlies are hibernating for shorter time periods, perhaps due to global warming.