Category Archives: Bearizona

Bearizona Wildlife Drive Through open Thursday

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–Bearizona Photo

WILLIAMS — Bearizona Wildlife Drive-Through Park in Williams closed this week due to the heavy winter storm that passed through Williams leaving over 20″ of snow in many areas. This is a rare move for Bearizona, but park Director Sean Casey made the decision for the safety of the staff, animals and customers. The park plans to open by Thursday.

Snow was this high in Bearizona. — Bearizona photo

“Bearizona employees are working hard to get the roads and paths cleared by Thursday,” Sean said in an email. “Closing the park is a rare event, but with the sudden snowfall and closed highways it seemed like the right decision.”

–Bearizona Photo

Another winter storm is expected Friday, but should leave less than 3-inches which does not usually evoke a closure. In fact, the snow brings Bearizona to life, for the most part. Many of the animals thrive on the weather and move about more making Bearizona a great experience.

–Bearizona Photo

Bearizona is currently open 7-days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Their hours change in the summer. In addition to the drive-through, they have a walking area with a petting zoo, dining in the Canyonland restaurant, and shopping to support their mission and their donations to various wildlife causes.

Other businesses in Williams are opening as they dig out from the storm. Most restaurants in the area remained open and the City of Williams has done a good job of clearing the streets of snow although there will be some areas impacted for a while. They should catch up the next two days, however, since we will see the sun for a couple of days. Saturday through the beginning of the week we should see mostly sunny skies making Bearizona a pleasant sight to visit.

It was reported that some of the animals at Bearizona were less than enthusiastic.–Bearizona Photo

Bearizona to Rescue Three Orphaned Grizzly Bear Cubs in June

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WILLIAMS — Bearizona, a popular wildlife park devoted to providing homes for wild animals in need, announced today it will rescue three grizzly bear cub siblings in June who were orphaned after their mom was euthanized by the Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks Service (FWP) following a surprise encounter with a hiker. The park plans to build a 40,000-square-foot enclosure for the cubs by March 2021 that will be one of the largest and most impressive grizzly bear enclosures in the United States upon completion. The public will be able view the four-month-old cubs beginning Friday, June 12 in the walk-thru section of the park, where they will live in the established enclosure Bearizona reserves for bear cub rescues.

The three grizzly bear siblings—one female and two males, who each weigh about 40 pounds now—became orphans after their mom was shot and injured by a hiker near Dupuyer, and ultimately had to be euthanized on April 9, 2020. At the time, it was not clear how many cubs she had. Three days later, a ranching family spotted her three cubs huddled together in a nearby field and reported them to the authorities.

While waiting for FWP to arrive, the family grew concerned for the cubs’ safety due to an impending snowstorm and a male grizzly that lives in the area. Since they are adept at roping, the family was able to gently rope the cubs and keep them safe until FWP arrived and transported them to a wildlife center.

The cubs remained at the Wildlife Center at Montana WILD for nearly two months while the FWP staff searched for a new home that would meet its rigorous, scientifically based standards that include:

  • Exceptional animal care and welfare, including a curate trained staff
  • Veterinary care
  • Safety for the public, staff and animals they care for
  • Proper enclosures that can keep wildlife safely contained, allow for adequate space, include habitat features, and enrichment items for mental stimulation
  • Educating the public on conservation
  • Financial stability

“Bearizona Wildlife Park is a Zoological Association of America accredited facility and has in place many of the high standards that FWP requires. Both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks Service did a lot of research on this facility, which also got very high recommendations from the AZ Fish and Game, AZ USFWS, AZ USDA, AZ state veterinarians, and many others,” said Laurie Wolf, Interim Education Bureau Chief for FWP. “Bearizona has also committed to investing an extraordinary amount of money into building an incredible new enclosure and exhibit for these three cubs. Also, most of the bears they currently have on display were orphaned cubs that were often placed there from AZ Fish & Game. We also chose them because they get over 400,000 visitors annually and focus on conservation education.”

Bearizona Owner Sean Casey will personally transport the cubs from Helena, Montana to Williams, Arizona on June 3 using a jaguar kennel in an air conditioned cargo van with the assistance of his 25-year-old nephew, Kevin Jr.

“While it is unfortunate that this sort of thing happens in the wild from time to time, we are honored to be able to take in these three grizzly cubs and provide them with the best home possible,” Casey said. “We are beginning construction in June on a new 40,000-square-foot exhibit with the goal of making it the best in the United States for these incredible animals. Since we have a nimble team of skilled plumbers, electricians, carpenters and concrete artists, we anticipate spending about $1 million on an exhibit that would ordinarily cost most municipal zoos more than $4 million. Our main goal is to create a truly spectacular natural habitat where ‘bears can be bears’ in order to help us educate our visitors about the plight of the grizzly and the environments in which they thrive.”

The new grizzly bear habitat at Bearizona will feature a 200-foot-long by 24-foot-high cliff, two waterfalls, underwater viewing sections and a rock ridge from where people can look down, into the enclosure, or up, into the grizzly ponds. Visitors will be able to safely view the bears due to the construction of moats, railings and some glass walls.

American zookeeper Jack Hanna is especially pleased about this development, as he is a big advocate of Bearizona and the park’s ability to rescue and care for grizzly bear cubs.

“I have attempted to help Bearizona Wildlife Park get grizzly bears in the past because I feel it is one of the top places in the United States for North American animals,” Hanna said. “They give their animals plenty of space and surround them with professional and caring staff. Bearizona’s large yearly attendance ensures that millions of people will be able to be educated about grizzly bears and leave with a newfound respect for these majestic animals and the forests they call home.”

Bearizona is a 158-acre facility accredited by the Zoological Association of America and is currently home to 39 black bears and many other species of North American wildlife. The drive- and walk-through park’s mission is to rescue wild animals in need of new homes and promote conservation by inviting visitors to view wildlife in spacious, natural environments. Since it was founded in 2010, Bearizona has fast-become a must-see attraction when visiting the Grand Canyon’s South Rim or driving through Northern Arizona. It was voted among the top three wildlife parks by the annual USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards twice in the past three years.

Animal lovers interested in supporting the new grizzly exhibit can purchase many items at shopbearizona.com/grizzly.

Bearizona Kicks Off Wild Wonderland Holiday Celebration

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Bearizona photo

Bearizona, a popular drive- and walk-thru wildlife park devoted to providing homes to wild animals in need, kicked off the annual Wild Wonderland celebration last night. Visitors are allowed to enter the glowing Fort Bearizona after normal operating hours every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in December to experience this night-time extravaganza.

Wild Wonderland is a family-friendly event that immerses guests in the Christmas spirit as they stroll among 400,000 lights illuminating the towering ponderosa pine trees. The lights are synchronized with traditional Christmas music every half hour, providing a dynamic multimedia show of colors and sounds. Additionally, several of the park’s resident critters, such as jaguars, otters, bobcats, raccoons, badgers and foxes, will be staying up late to open their early Christmas presents for the viewing pleasuring of park guests.

Guests will also be given the opportunity to spend time with Mrs. Claus during a nightly story time reading in the gift shop, stay warm by the outdoor fire pit where they can purchase s’mores to roast, and enjoy the seasonal libations and holiday treats available for purchase at Canyonlands Restaurant. After story time, kids of all ages can take photos with Mrs. Claus.

The full nightly schedule for Wild Wonderland is below:

  • 6 pm – Front gates open
  • 6:30 pm – Jaguars and otters open presents
  • First light show takes place, repeating every 30 minutes until 8:30 pm
  • Craft room opens in gift shop
  • 7 pm – Story time with Mrs. Claus
  • 7:30 pm – Bobcats and raccoons open presents
  • 8 pm – Story time with Mrs. Claus
  • 8:15 pm – Last admittance
  • 8:30 pm – Badgers and foxes open presents
  • 9 pm – Park closes

“Our Wild Wonderland has always been a wonderful opportunity for families to come together and get into the spirit of the holidays,” said owner Sean Casey. “We are proud to continue providing this experience for the thousands of park visitors who have let us become a part of their family traditions.”

Tickets for Wild Wonderland are available online at http://www.bearizona.com/ for $13 (using promo code bzwild19) or $20 at the gate, and children under the age of 3 are free. Admission to this event is a separate charge from general park admission. Wild Wonderland takes place in the Fort Bearizona walk-thru portion of the park only; the drive-thru portion of the park is closed. Wild Wonderland will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Bearizona Welcomes Vernon the Bald Eagle on Veterans Day

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WILLIAMS — Bearizona, a popular drive- and walk-through wildlife park devoted to providing homes to wild animals in need, is introducing its first bald eagle on Veterans Day. He was named Vernon by the winner of the company’s recent naming contest that reached over 30,000 animal lovers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and was shared 124 times in just 24 hours.

The contest called for all Bearizona fans and supporters to submit a name appropriate for such an incredible animal that represents the strength and freedom of America ahead of the national Veterans Day holiday. The winning name was chosen out of 850 fan entries and honors George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. Vernon is especially fitting since the first president of the United States and Bearizona’s first bald eagle were both from the great state of Virginia.

After he was seen fighting with another eagle in what was likely a territorial dispute and suffered injuries affecting his ability to fly, Vernon was rescued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department and made his way to multiple facilities over the last decade before finding his forever home at the Bearizona Wildlife Park, where he will have the space and care he needs to thrive.

“He’s very shy, but he loosens up after a few fish,” said Susan Davidson, founder of High Country Raptors. “The staff continues to learn more about him and his likes and dislikes every day, and we are doing our very best to keep Vernon feeling as comfortable and safe as possible in his new home.”

Visitors will be able to visit Vernon for the first time, along with the rest of the Bearizona residents, on Veterans Day, this Monday, Nov. 11. Free admission will be offered to all individuals currently serving in or who have honorably served in the U.S. military.

“Eagles are becoming more common here in Virginia and I see them a couple of times a month. My heart still jumps in excitement when I see one,” says contest winner, Laurinda Bowling of Bland, Virginia. According to Savannah Carleton, a second contest winner who chose the name Vernon, “Since the bald eagle is from Virginia, it seemed perfect for his name to be Vernon. But when I saw someone else had suggested it, I just decided to ‘second’ their vote. It’s always fun to participate and vote when an Arizona park gets a new member and the community gets a voice in the process.”

Bearizona commission special sculpture for International Sculpture Day

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WILLIAMS – Bearizona, a popular wildlife park near the Grand Canyon devoted to providing homes to wild animals in need, is commissioning a famous sculptor family to create a new sculpture for the park in honor of International Sculpture Day on April 27, called “Inspiration Gone Wild,” in the hopes that if a grizzly bear-centric totem is built, the grizzly bears will come.

Josh, Jesse, and Jonathan LaBenne—who has created sculptures for celebrity clients including Robert Redford, George W. Bush, Richard Petty, John Crawford, and Judge Judy, to name a few—have also helped sculpt Bearizona into the experience it is today since the park’s inception in 2009. Among the impressive sculptures and full-scale experiential art installations the Afton, Wyoming family has created for the wildlife park are Canyonlands Restaurant, complete with sculpted canyons, eagles and a black jaguar, and the replica of an old mine that houses Bearizona’s gift shop.

Jonathan “The Bear Man” LaBenne is the patriarch of the artistic family, whose sculptures grace many art galleries throughout mountain regions in the United States and worldwide. He was originally known as a chainsaw artist, but his desire for refinement and detail as well as his passion for relief work began to show as he incorporated grinders, sanders, torches and high-speed carving tools into his trade.

He and his wife, Pamela, who is also an artist, began teaching their children how to create art at a very early age.

“We now have a family of awesome artists!” he says. “But our crown jewel is, undoubtedly, Canyonlands Restaurant at Bearizona.”

The LaBenne family continues to use a variety of materials and tools. At Bearizona, for example, many of the rock sculptures and arches overlay old cars and trucks. The otter mountain in the new otter habitat is built on top of a recycled dump truck, along with old Dodge and Chevy pickup truck parts. The rocks and ledges at Canyonlands Restaurant are also built on steel framing covered in sheet metal, which were later covered with foam, plaster, concrete and other mediums to sculpt the rock walls and ruins.

“One of my favorite things to do is recycle old materials and turn it into something new and beautiful,” LaBenne says. “When I see a totaled car at a junk yard, for example, I immediately start imaging what shape of rock it could be.”

A New Sculpture for Bearizona in Honor of International Sculpture Day: “Inspiration Gone Wild”
Bearizona owner Sean Casey announced today, in honor of International Sculpture Day, he is commissioning the LaBenne family to create a new sculpture called “Inspiration Gone Wild,” which will be on display in the walk-through portion of the park next to the otter habitat. The sculpture will feature a giant grizzly bear at the base of a real tree accompanied by three grizzly bear cubs climbing the tree, who are meeting three friendly otters, curious to see the cubs. A bald eagle on a nest will top off this epic collection of sculpted creatures, harmoniously existing on a single tree.

“There is no question about it: Bearizona would not be the experience it is today without the LaBenne family and their incredible talent and vision,” Casey says. “We could not be more thrilled that the new otter habitat will be marked by yet another fantastic LaBenne creation, and we are hopeful that if we build a grizzly bear sculpture, we may attract the opportunity to rescue them in the future. We have been wanting to rescue grizzly bears for years.”

Since it was founded in 2010, Bearizona has fast-become a must-see attraction when visiting the Grand Canyon’s South Rim or driving through Northern Arizona. It was voted among the top three wildlife parks by the annual USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards twice in the past two years.

FREE Admission for Veterans and Active Duty Military on November 11th

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WILLIAMS – This Veterans Day, Bearizona Wildlife Park invites all active duty and retired military to enjoy a day at the park as a Thank You for their service.

On Sunday, November 11, all veterans and active-duty military personnel will receive free admission into Bearizona Wildlife Park, by presenting a military ID or proof of service.

Tiny Elk Calf and Pronghorn Fawn Rescued by Bearizona Make Their Public Debut

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WILLIAMS – An elk calf, appropriately named Lucky, was rescued by Bearizona after her pregnant mother was hit by a vehicle on I-40 June 10. A month later, the one-month-old calf is almost fully recovered from a dramatic entry into the world and is on display in her new home at the wildlife park near the Grand Canyon. Lucky is the twelfth wild animal rescued this year by the popular drive- and walk-through park devoted to providing homes to wild animals in need.

Lucky’s late mom was pregnant with her at the time of the accident, and the newborn elk calf was brought into the world and saved by Flagstaff firefighters and a Prescott family who stopped at the scene and then rushed the calf to Bearizona in their motor home. She is now healthy enough to be on display along with a recently rescued two-month-old pronghorn fawn. Jessie, the pronghorn fawn, was displaced and then unable to be safely reunited with her family by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The public can see the two together in their new home at Bearizona beginning this week.

Lucky and Jessie.

“It really is a miracle Lucky made it, which is why the family that helped save her requested we give her that name,” said Bearizona Owner Sean Casey. “We are so grateful to the Flagstaff firefighters and Prescott family that rushed to give her care at the scene, and to the veterinarians and animal staff that watched over her day and night those first few days.”

Bearizona’s mission is to rescue wild animals in need of new homes and promote conservation by inviting visitors to view wildlife in spacious, natural environments. The park has rescued four black bear cubs, two elk, one pronghorn and five otters to date in 2018.

Since it was founded in 2010, Bearizona has fast-become a must-see attraction when visiting the Grand Canyon’s South Rim or driving through Northern Arizona. It was voted among the top three wildlife parks by the annual USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards twice in the past two years.

Dangerous bear activity on rise in Arizona

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Arizona Game and Fish Department file photo of a bear eating from a bird feeder.

PHOENIX — Arizona Game and Fish continually warn against feeding wild animals and Arizona residents continually ignore the warning. Human feeding led to a woman being attacked by Javelina in Sedona. Most recently, a bear had to be euthanized in Payson. Not all of the problem stems from people illegally feeding animals, but much of it does. Recent drought conditions only exacerbate the problem as bears seek food in trash receptacles.

Arizona Game and Fish Department wildlife managers have seen an increase of roaming bear activity statewide in their quest for easy sources of food and water. Officers found this cache of food and water when seeking a habituated bear near Pinetop on Sunday.-AZGF Photo

“This season’s extremely dry conditions are making it difficult for bears to find natural food and water sources, increasing the chances of bears coming into neighborhoods,” Wildlife Manager Jarrod McFarlin said. “Bears can become habituated to human-related food sources and quickly lose their fear of humans. People living in bear country should do their part to keep wildlife safe by removing attractants such as bird seed, pet food, hummingbird feeders, and trash from their yards, and by keeping all trash inside a secured area until collection day.”

Visitors and campers to the forests should know that feeding wild animals is dangerous no matter how tame they may seem. A deer or elk can be spooked easily and cause serious injury or death. Bears are not cuddly little teddy bears. Even the Kaibab squirrel can bite and leave a serious injury. Campers should not attempt to feed any animals. It is not only unwise but illegal.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds everyone—once again—to be Bear Aware, following separate incidents where habituated bears became a public safety threat and needed to be humanely euthanized under department policy.

“When a bear becomes habituated to people for food and water, it can become a real threat to public safety,” AZGFD Wildlife Manager Shawn Wagner said. “People feeding wildlife think they’re helping wildlife, but they’re putting everyone’s safety at risk — whether it’s a neighbor out walking their pet or a family out for a jog. When a bear doesn’t get the meal it’s become accustomed to, it can attack whoever is around.”

Under department’s human-wildlife conflict policy, wildlife officers consider the bear’s behavior, age, sex and whether it’s a threat to human safety when determining when to relocate or lethally remove a bear.

The department spends considerable time and resources each year to remove or relocate habituated bears to minimize the risk to people. However, relocating a bear doesn’t always solve the problem. Approximately half of all bears relocated will return to where they were captured, no matter how great the distance.

On Monday May 28, AZGFD wildlife managers removed a sub-adult male bear from the north Phoenix neighborhood of Anthem that had previously been relocated from Prescott. On Sunday May 27, officers in the White Mountains were forced to remove a habituated female bear feeding on large piles of food and water left by a local resident.

The same female bear had been captured in Pinetop in June, 2017 and was relocated to a pre-approved release site near the Mogollon Rim, approximately 55 miles away. In May, it returned to Pinetop with two cubs. A day after euthanizing the bear, neighbors told AZGFD about the bear’s two cubs, which were safely located, evaluated by a local veterinarian and transferred to Bearizona in Williams.

“We have a no-breeding program for bears at Bearizona, so we can help save bears and offer them a new home,” said Bearizona Owner Sean Casey. “Although the circumstances behind this rescue are unfortunate, we are ultimately grateful to be able to provide a safe and loving home for these two little cubs.”

“Habituation of wild animals is happening more now than ever. This is exactly why people shouldn’t feed wild animals,” said Wildlife Advocate Jack Hanna.

The young cubs will be quarantined and closely monitored by veterinarians and animal staff for 30 days before inheriting their own exhibit in the walk-through section of the park, Fort Bearizona. The public will be able to see the cubs in their new home beginning Friday, June 29.

While this had a somewhat happy ending, on May 31 a bear that was aggressively attempting to enter the home of Payson resident Joseph Stapp had to be euthanized. Stapp was asleep Tuesday evening, May 29, when he heard a loud crash on the porch of the home he is building. He went to the door to see what was going on and got an unpleasant surprise.

“I looked out the front door, and the bear and I were face to face,” said Stapp. “He was pushing on the door, and I was pushing back. I was not scared, but I couldn’t shoo him.”

Photo at left: The bear knocked a desk on its side on the porch and pulled out the drawers. Photo at right: Photo quality is poor due to the glare, but the bear is on the back porch tipping a washing machine. -AZGF Photo

It was the third day in a row the bear had visited, causing property damage on the front and back porches. A neighbor was able to scare it off temporarily on Tuesday night by throwing rocks, but the bear returned later that night and again on Wednesday. The homeowner reported to AZGFD that the bear had gotten into a garbage can containing dog food several times earlier in the week, so he secured the can inside his home.

When the bear returned, it attempted to enter his home, and Stapp called 911. Wildlife officers from AZGFD live-trapped the adult male bear at the residence, evaluated it, and according to policy euthanized it because of the bear’s aggressive behavior and lack of fear toward humans.

Do your part to keep bears from posing a threat and needing to be removed. AZGF suggests the following:

  • Keep all trash inside a secured area until collection day. If that’s not possible, keep food waste in a bag in the freezer and place those in the trash as close to collection time as possible.
  • If you’ll be out of town or are a weekend visitor, ask a neighbor to place your trash out on collection day.
  • Take bird feeders down at night.
  • Keep pet food inside or remove all uneaten food.

For a brochure on living with bears and other wildlife, visit any AZGFD office or visit www.azgfd.com/Wildlife/LivingWith.

Bearizona announces the grand opening of Canyonlands Restaurant

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WILLIAMS – Bearizona has opened its much anticipated 6,000-square-foot restaurant, Canyonlands. This themed restaurant features soaring canyon walls and ancient ruins that allow diners to immerse themselves in the true spirit of the Southwest. The expansive two-story covered deck includes priceless views of the park’s spectacular jaguar exhibit, which features a 25 foot waterfall.

Canyonlands Restaurant will open its doors at 10:30 a.m. and will close 2 hours after the park’s posted closing time. This restaurant is only accessible to park guests and annual pass holders.
Bearizona is a wildlife park which invites guests to experience a scenic three-mile drive in their own vehicle, witnessing North American animals in their natural environment. In Fort Bearizona, visitors can leisurely stroll along winding walkways through the forest for an up-close view of even more animal antics. Finally, guests are encouraged to catch the complimentary Birds of Prey free flight show, where they will come face to face with hawks, owls and other raptors.

Bearizona jaguar gives blood to jaguar at Reid Park Zoo

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Click on image to view video of Bagheera swimming.

WILLIAMS — This time of year is all about giving, and what better Christmas gift than to help a friend in need. Bearizona Wildlife Park’s resident jaguar Bagheera was able to give a blood transfusion to a Jaguar in dire need from the Reid Park Zoo.

Jaguars are a near threatened species and numbers are rapidly declining in their wild habitats which include the southern regions of the United States, Mexico and Central and South America. The last known wild Jaguars living in the United States were actually last seen in the Tucson Arizona, with the most recent sighting just last week.

Bearizona’s Owner stated “we received a call last week from Reid Park Zoo stating they had a Jaguar who was in need of help. We of course wanted to help, and after some discussions with our veterinary team we decided it was a great opportunity to help out a jaguar in need.

Bearizona’s male jaguar Bagheera is one of the most beloved critters to call Bearizona home and now he can add life saver to his list. They say a cat has nine lives and it looks like that very well may be the case for Reid Park Zoo’s jaguar Nakita, after the successful blood transfusion.

Casey also stated that “We are happy we were able to help and wish Nikita a speedy recovery.”

Bagheera can be seen frolicking in his home at Bearizona, an 11,000 square foot exhibit complete with a 30 foot waterfall.