The Grizzly Cub provided with a sanctuary at the BC Wildlife Park has been named ‘Hamilton’ to honour Provincial Bear Biologist, Tony Hamilton. Tony is a strong advocate for Bear conservation in the province and supports the BC Wildlife Park in providing a sanctuary for the cub.

“The role of the BC Wildlife Park in providing Conservation Education is vital” said Tony Hamilton, Provincial Bear Biologist. “At the BC Wildlife Park, people can get up-close to Grizzlies in a safe manner and learn how they can support bear conservation in British Columbia”.

Tony completed his undergraduate Thesis on Bear Digestion at the University of British Columbia in 1978, and his case subjects were Shardik and Sheeba, the two adult Grizzlies at the BC Wildlife Park. Shardik and Sheeba are orphan siblings that originally had a home at the University of British Columbia. They later came to the BC Wildlife Park where hundreds of thousands of visitors have seen them. For many years, the Park has featured Shardik and Sheeba in interpretive talks that focus on Bear biology and conservation. Shardik and Sheeba are now 31 years old – probably among the oldest Grizzly Bears in the world.

Tony shared a personal story to demonstrate Sheeba’s playful personality. He was hosing out her cage, as usual, when she hooked the hose with one claw and wouldn’t let go. Tony is a big guy of 6’4” and he pulled with all his might and couldn’t pull it away – then she suddenly let go and Sheba and Shardic had a “good laugh” as Tony fell backwards onto the floor.

Hamilton’s Story

On May 24, 2006 Steve Carlson, District Officer for Edmonton Fish & Wildlife District contacted the BC Wildlife Park to ask if the Park could provide a home for an orphan Grizzly Bear Cub. The dark brown cub weighing 4 kg had been brought in by a citizen who had seen the cub wondering alone in the Swan Hills Area located four hours by car north of Edmonton. The cub had likely been born in late February or early March.

Edmonton Valley Zoo was contacted and they agreed to take in the cub and give it time to build back its strength.

Meanwhile, West Jet was contacted and they agreed to provide free shipping of the cub to Kelowna. On Thursday, June 1, 2006 at 4:45 John Benedik, Park Animal Health Technician and BC Wildlife Park Director Pat Petley met the West Jet flight into Kelowna and drove the cub to the BC Wildlife Park.

The BC Wildlife Park Wildlife Rehabilitation Program focuses on mammals (other than bears) and birds of prey as well as endangered species.

Provincial Bear Biologist, Tony Hamilton, in Victoria explained that Grizzlies are very dependant on their mothers to learn how to forage and survive in their home territory. In the BC interior an adult male grizzly requires a 300-500 sq.km. home range - this compares to approximately 10 sq. km. for a male deer.

While the deer fawn needs to learn to eat grass and browse, the grizzly bear cub has to learn from its mom how to find food over a vast area. Grizzly bears have a very wide diet – roots, leaves, berries, insects, trout, salmon and mammals. The cub also needs to watch how, when and where mom dens up for the winter. Cubs learn how to avoid other bears that are higher in the social hierarchy, as well as wolves, cougars and in most cases, people. While orphaned cubs may have some of the required behaviours to survive in the wild, individual bear survival and eventual contribution a population’s welfare is dependent on natural, locally-adapted training received as a cub.

Above all, the cub must not learn to associate humans with food. If this happens the bear will seek out towns, gardens, bird feeders and garbage cans. Bears that start eating garbage can become habituated to people and usually must be euthanized for safety reasons. According to Bear Aware, 750 black bears and 50 grizzly bears are euthanized each year as they become conflict bears and become habituated to people and food-conditioned.

Tony feels that getting people close to bears in a safe manner and providing education messages on bear conservation is essential to helping people understand what is needed so that people and bears can live together in British Columbia.

The BC Wildlife Park is currently raising funds for a new Bear/Otter habitat. The new habitat will be built to the leading edge of zoological design. There will be no visible fencing – a dry moat will be hidden by contouring and there will be landscaping and water features. Most importantly, our Zookeeping staff will care for the cub to the highest level providing enrichment to stimulate the cub to explore. Since the cub relies heavily on sense of smell the keepers will hide objects that have different smells. An example is a cow hide that will make a great toy for Hamilton to rip up.

Park supporters are building the BC Wildlife Park to be the premiere terrestrial zoological facility in the province – one that is committed to BC wildlife, sustainable living and a healthy natural environment.

To learn more and to donate visit www.BCzoo.org or call 573-3242. Discover your passion for helping to build the premier zoological facility in the province – one that is committed to a bright future for the benefit of our children and BC wildlife.

“Discover Our Nature” At the BC Wildlife Park The BC Wildlife Park is located alongside the Trans Canada Highway exit 390/391, 15 minutes drive east of Kamloops city centre. The Park currently has extended summer hours until 6:00 pm for June, July, August and September. Annual Passes are a great bargain as less than two visits more than pays for the cost.

For more information, please contact Rob Purdy, General Manager, BC Wildlife Park, at (250) 573.3242 or email rpurdy@bczoo.org, or Ms. Lee Morris, CEO, Tourism Kamloops, at (250) 372.8000 or lee@tourismkamloops.com.