Celebrate Bear Awareness Day With Houston Zoo's Bears

By Brian Hill

Houston, TX - It’s a long, slow process, but black bears are rebounding in Louisiana and there have been a number of verified sightings in Texas. If you enjoy camping, chances are improving that you might spot a bear on a camping trip this fall.

Get bear aware at the Houston Zoo and find out what you need to know to share the great outdoors with these amazing animals during Bear Awareness Day on Saturday, September 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During Bear Awareness Day, our keepers will offer timely camping tips with dramatic assistance from our Andean bears and grizzly bears during “Good Camper/Bad Camper Theatre presentations at 10:30 a.m. (grizzly bear exhibit) and 1:30 p.m. (Andean bear exhibit). In humorous skits, our keepers will demonstrate how to make your campsite “bear proof.”

Bear Awareness Day activities include the challenging Bear Maze where kids of all ages can find out if they have what it takes to be a bear, a raffle drawing for unique works of art created by the Houston Zoo’s own bears, and a special appearance from none other than the famous Smokey Bear.

Representatives from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Big Thicket National Preserve, Houston SPCA and the East Texas Black Bear Taskforce Committee will be on hand with informational booths to answer all your bear related questions.

Visit the Houston Zoo on the Web at http://www.houstonzoo.org/bearaware/ for more information and a cool Bear Aware video.

Bear Awareness Day at the Houston Zoo is designed to enlighten and educate the public about the integral role that bears play in nature, as well as the importance of respecting biological diversity. Earth is home to eight species of bears. In North America we are fortunate to have three bear species: polar bears (Ursus maritimus), grizzly (brown) bears (Ursus arctos), and the American black bear (Ursus americanus).

Recognized by Parents magazine as one of the Ten Best Zoos for Kids, the Houston Zoo is an exciting live animal adventure that provides a unique educational and conservation resource serving 1.7 million guests annually. Set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, the Zoo is home to more than 4,500 exotic animals representing more than 800 species. Operated by the not-for-profit Houston Zoo, Inc., the Houston Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species, the provision of engaging educational opportunities and the creation of stimulating exhibits that broaden the experiences of our guests and encourage their curiosity.

The Houston Zoo is located at 6200 Golf Course Drive in beautiful Hermann Park. The Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during Central Standard Time (last admission at 5 p.m.) and from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. during Central Daylight Time (last admission at 6 p.m.). The Zoo is closed Christmas Day. Regular admission is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors, $6 for children ages 2-11 and FREE for children under 2. Visit the courtesy booth at your neighborhood Fiesta Mart and purchase an adult Zoo admission for $8 and a child Zoo admission for $5. Zoo memberships start at only $55. For information on all the great benefits of becoming a Zoo member call (713) 533-6713 or visit our Web site at www.houstonzoo.org.

Ride METRORail to the Houston Zoo from the Fannin South Park and Ride lot. With frequent service, METRORail is a convenient answer to traffic congestion in the Texas Medical Center/Hermann Park/Museum District corridor. For METRORail information, visit www.ridemetro.org.

The Houston Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information visit www.aza.org.

To view Houston Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-727-Houston_Zoo