Liberty Takes First Steps Into New “Black Bear Habitat” at LTB
Bobbi Brink, founder and director at Lions, Tigers & Bears was thrilled to see Liberty Bear take her first steps into the new “Black Bear Habitat”, a 4-acre home for three resident black bears that will provide a more natural environment for the furry occupants.
“We have been eagerly awaiting the completion of our newest addition to the sanctuary and looking forward to allowing the bears to play freely in a more natural environment for them,” said Bobbi Brink, Founder of Lions, Tigers & Bears. “This habitat falls in line with our mission to provide a safe and healthy environment for neglected or abused animals where they can live out the rest of their lives.”
Liberty Bear will soon be joined by her new best friends, Blossom and Delilah who are patiently waitinf for their turn. The new 4-acre habitat has plenty of room to play in for all three bears and loaded with activities to keep them busy. There are hammocks to rest in, decks to sun on and caves to sleep in. There is even a tall scratching post. A large water pond provides a refreshing spot to deal with those summer days and tires and other toys are scattered about.
The new $250,000 “Black Bear Habitat” was funded through private donations and services. The sanctuary continues to raise funds for the habitat to complete some of the minor construction still needed as well as for ongoing maintenance.
All three bears were rescued and brought to Lions, Tigers & Bears when there were no other options for the bears. Liberty was brought to ranch on July 4, 2010 (hence the name Liberty) by the California Department of Fish & Game after she was removed from the Angeles National Forest because she had learned how to get food from the campers and would continue to come back to camp site and residential areas scouring for much better tasting food than what she found in the forest.
Both Blossom & Delilah were rescued from a defunct zoo in Oklahoma that could no longer provide the necessary care needed to take care of these wild animals. LTB Found, Bobbi Brink, through generous donations and sponsorships, altered an existing trailer to handle the precious cargo and picked-up and delivered the bears back to the San Diego facility.
The three bears have been kept in temporary shelters while the construction of the habitat was being completed and more funding could be found. While all three bears will call the new habitat home, Liberty will have first rights to the new enclosure while the other two bears get more accustomed to the new environment.
Donations are still being accepted through the website or by calling the sanctuary at (619) 659-8078.