New Mexico’s First Bear Festival May 13 at Los Alamos Nature Center. Photo by wildlife biologist Daryl Ratajczak

PEEC News:
 
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) and the Land of Enchantment Wildlife Foundation (LEWF), New Mexico’s first Bear Festival is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13 at the Los Alamos Nature Center. There will even be a scent dog demonstration to show the abilities of a dog’s nose. A bear’s nose is about seven times better than a Bloodhound’s nose, allowing bears to smell about 2,100 times better than humans!

Last summer, black bears made headlines in Los Alamos. There was the bear attack that went viral and made national news, numerous in-town bear sightings, and even a bear that hitched a ride on top of a garbage truck. It felt like no bird feeder, trash can, or dumpster was safe. PEEC and others began discussing what residents should know and could do to co-exist with these amazing creatures. LEWF and PEEC gathered information from other communities and invited other local organizations to participate in an educational celebration.
Bear Festival includes a culmination of knowledge and creative activities from over many different local and regional organizations. Representatives from New Mexico Game and Fish, Bandelier National Monument, Land of Enchantment Wildlife Foundation, Cottonwood Rehab, Los Alamos County Environmental Services, Sandia Bear Watch, U.S. Forest Service, and many other organizations will be on hand to provide fun, games, and education about how we can safely coexist with bears.

In addition to the Bear Festival at the Los Alamos Nature Center, Mesa Public Library will have a bear song at Music and Movement, for children six years old and younger, 9:30 a.m. and a bear-themed craft and information 10 a.m. to noon. Bring your camera to take photos with an eight-foot bear provided by the Los Alamos County.

The Bear Festival is free at the Los Alamos Nature Center, 2600 Canyon Road. To learn more about this and other Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) programs, visit www.peecnature.org.