Alpine Bear Celebrates Independence Day Birthday

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Sanctuary invites guests to wish Liberty Bear a very Happy Birthday.
Lions Tigers & Bears (LTB) invites the community to become a ‘member for a day’ and visit the sanctuary on Friday, July 3, 2015 to celebrate the birthday of their very first ursine resident, Liberty Bear. The celebration will take place during the sanctuary’s 10:15 am member visit. Must RSVP in advance by calling (619) 659-8078 option 2, to make an appointment.

Sanctuary invites guests to wish Liberty Bear a very Happy Birthday.
Lions Tigers & Bears (LTB) invites the community to become a ‘member for a day’ and visit the sanctuary on Friday, July 3, 2015 to celebrate the birthday of their very first ursine resident, Liberty Bear. The celebration will take place during the sanctuary’s 10:15 am member visit. Must RSVP in advance by calling (619) 659-8078 option 2, to make an appointment.
Each animal at the sanctuary is a rescue, so the exact date of birth isn’t always known. Instead, sanctuary volunteers and staff celebrate birthdays on the day the animal first arrived at the sanctuary. Brink says, “The day they arrive at LTB, is the start of a brand new life. Most of these animals came from deplorable conditions, where they never received proper care. Our goal is to provide them with the care and attention they require and rightly deserve.”
Liberty, a 270 pound, 7 year old California black bear was rescued by LTB on July 4, 2009 after California Fish & Wildlife officials had to remove the wild bear, who was dubbed a nuisance, from the Angeles National Forest. Liberty, a yearling at the time, was entering campgrounds and stealing food from campers. This behavior is what officials call habituation – when wild animals become unafraid of humans. Officials spared the bear from certain death, and brought her to LTB, where she will remain for the rest of her life. LTB is home to a total of three habituated wild animals (two bears, one mountain lion).
Liberty is a ‘poster bear’ for habituation. Humans can play a huge role in helping to keep wild bears and other wildlife wild, by taking precautionary measures to ensure they stay out of neighborhoods, and in the woods. “Food is what attracts them- they follow their noses. Bears have an incredible sense of smell. They can smell as far away as 20 miles upwind.” states Brink.
Bear Tips:
Never feed a bear.
Keep trashcans secure and inaccessible by storing them in garages or sheds.
Don’t put trashcans out until the morning of pick up.
Feed your pets indoors, so wildlife do not become attracted to the scent.
Keep bbq grills stored indoors, be sure to remove scraps of food after each use.
Don’t plant fruit trees or berry bushes near your home.
It costs a minimum of $10,000 per year to provide basic care to just one bear at LTB. The sanctuary is home to a total of ten bears. The demand to provide these animals, who live up to 30 years in captivity, and eat upwards of 20 pounds of raw fish, nuts and produce each day, has never been greater. The non-profit sanctuary is asking for the public’s support. “Across the United States, there are countless bears being kept in private hands, that have nowhere left to go. We are trying like mad to secure homes for these bears, but there are little options left. All of the sanctuaries are full. That is why it is so important to try our best to keep these animals wild and free.”
In the meantime, Liberty may have lost her independence on Independence Day, but her pursuit of happiness, has been left unmarred. Visit Liberty and the rest of the 60+ rescued animals of LTB.
About Lions, Tigers and Bears
Lions, Tigers & Bears (LTB) is a federally and state licensed non-profit 501 (c)(3) rescue facility dedicated to providing a safe haven for abused and abandoned exotic animals and to inspiring an educational forum to inform the public about the plight of the exotic animal trade. LTB is a NO KILL, NO BREED and NO SELL facility that allows animals in its care the opportunity to live out their lives with dignity in a caring and safe environment. LTB is one of few sanctuaries in the United States with the highest level of accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and the American Sanctuary Association.
For more information or to make a donation to help care for the animals at LTB, please visit www.LionsTigersAndBears.org or call (619) 659-8078.

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