Is it possible to live in harmony with bears? The Haines Borough School District’s summer school would like to thank our community for helping us answer this question.
Artist Tim Shields taught us to observe and draw the differences between brown and black bears. This helped us learn many bear facts. Anthony Crupi, from Fish and Game, lent us materials, films and booklets to confirm these differences and contrast them to polar bears. Dave Olerud from the eagle foundation used many bear skulls while explaining what bears need in their “box of life.” Pam Randles took us to Chilkoot Lake on a bus (thanks to Alaska Nature Tours) and into bear habitat while stressing bear safety. Later, she helped us realize how much food bears need for the winter when we played the game, “How Many Bears Can Live In This Forest?” Lyle Huff and Al Badgley answered our questions about hunting safety in bear country.
Storytellers Carl Lehman, Lee Heinmiller, and Julie Folta emphasized bear behavior and bear communication through facts and fiction that enlightened our imaginations.
Our final quest was to observe a live bear at Kroschel’s Wildlife Center. We amusingly watched two-year-old ‘Kitty’ eat oatmeal, run and romp, and swim in her new pond.
After studying a brief history of people and bears, we now recognize the need for continued planning and managing for bears. Thank you, Haines, for supporting our summer learning opportunities and raising our understanding of what makes living here so out of the ordinary!
Barbara Pardee for the summer school team