No thanks. I already ate.: January 2009

Thursday, January 29, 2009

bear smart imax film & food fundraiser

Bear Smart Durango hosts a heart-warming Valentine's fundraiser with the award-winning IMAX film "BEARS" on Friday, Feb. 13th at 7PM at the Smiley Theater. Come at 6PM for a pre-screening chili (meat or veggie) & chip reception courtesy of Carver Brewing and Zuberfizz. Bring a bear, any bear, be it soft, fuzzy, hard, toy, a painting or photo for our Bear Gift Sale with all proceeds benefitting Bear Smart Durango. (No live bears, please).

Fri. Feb. 13

Smiley Theater

6 PM: food and bear sale

7 PM: IMAX BEARS film

$12 adults ($10 film only)

$7 children ($5 film only)

Tickets available in advance at Maria's Bookshop, Magpies Newsstand Cafe and Southwest Sound.

This event is sponsored by: AJ Construction, LeGrand Construction, Tile Art, Advanced Concrete Solutions and Roseberry's Plumbing & Heating and is presented by Mara Legrand and Skydancer Productions.

Special thanks to: Carver Brewing, Zuberfizz, New Ice, City Market and Primesco Productions.

About the film: The fourth and most anticipated giant-screen film produced by the National Wildlife Federation, "BEARS" explores the mythical past and fragile future of some of the most misunderstood predators on the planet. From polar bears in the arctic tundra to grizzlies in Alaska and black bears in Montana, "BEARS" presents these enterprising omnivores in the full glory of their natural habitats and depicts the challenges facing each species.

how you can help

Most importantly is to remove any attractants from your property that will lure bears, which creates "problem" bears in the first place. Remove the food source and you remove the bear. Here are a few other ways you can contribute:

• Be a good neighbor, by talking to them, and notifying them on how to not attract bears to your neighborhood.

• Make bird feeders inaccessible on first sign of bears being in your area. All it takes is once, and bears easily recall this valuable, high-caloric food reward (a seven pound tube of black oil birdseed contains 12,000 calories).

• If you have fruit trees and actually use the fruit and dont want damage to limbs, get all fruit off the tree, shake the fruit off if necessary and pick before fruit is ripe. Remove any and all fallen fruit from the ground.

• Report bear sightings.

• Notify your elected officials when you are experiencing bear issues. Or write a letter to the editor. People that draft policy don't address something they never hear about.

• Get a wildlife-resistant trash container for your home. If you have a dumpster, talk to your waste provider about upgrading or modifying with metal lids and latches to make it wildlife-proof.

• If you live in the county, consider electric fencing to protect things of value from damage, injury or death from bears.

• Feel free to help out financially. We accept contributions year-round, not just during bear season.

• Volunteer some time during bear season.

Please allow bears to remain wild bears.