The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is getting ready to serve up a giant harvest feast for its resident brown bears.
The annual fall event, Big Bears Big Veggies, returns Saturday, September 12, at noon, giving visitors an opportunity to watch the conservation center’s resident brown bears dig into a large spread of pumpkins, produce, and other treats.
Much of the food comes from growers who participated in the Alaska State Fair. The vegetables are being repurposed as enrichment for the bears and other animals at the center. Additional produce is being provided by Charlie’s Produce and AWCC supporters Tabitha and Mike Bancroft.
According to AWCC, the event is about more than giving the bears a seasonal feast. The produce provides enrichment that encourages the animals to explore, forage, and engage in natural behaviors. “Big Bears Big Veggies is one of those events that is just as much fun for our bears as it is for our guests,” said Sarah “Howie” Howard, executive director of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center…