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"You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." - John Bunyan
June 5, 2024
Dear Lara,
Happy June! I hope you are doing great!
I chose the above quote for this week's newsletter because it speaks to the importance of giving, particularly giving to those who can "never repay you." For a nonprofit organization like Keepers of the Wild, it is the generous giving of donors that makes our work possible.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the animals we care for do repay us—maybe not in the traditional sense of repaying a debt, but in ways that fill our lives with riches beyond measure. They share their beauty, charm, strength and grace with us, providing an unprecedented glimpse into their unique way of life, which would otherwise be hidden from us.
Observing wildlife and spending time in nature is known to confer many physical and psychological benefits on humans. Animals like those at Keepers of the Wild help us understand our place in the world and foster a deeper appreciation for the mystery and wonder of the our planet's amazing biodiversity.
A 2009 study on the benefits of observing wildlife found that "nature and watching wildlife has the potential to temporarily distract us from our hectic time-driven schedules, daily existence and work/family demands to a space where time is our own and a place where it is possible to reconnect and restore our mental well-being to a state of equilibrium."
Thank you for caring about our mission and for understanding how meaningful it really is. I hope you get to come spend some equilibrium-restoring time with us soon!
With gratitude,
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Keepers of the Wild Board Member | |
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WELCOME OUR NEWEST RESIDENT!
Please join us in welcoming our newest rescued resident, Penelope, the coyote pup! This adorable little girl was found in the local desert, assumed to be abandoned and being messed with by humans. A concerned citizen dropped her off at the Sanctuary, where our dedicated team of Animal Caretakers promptly provided care and a safe, quarantined area for her. Arizona Game and Fish authorities were notified, and we agreed to keep Penelope, committing to providing her a life-long home with top nutrition, medical care, and a high standard of living.
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TAKE A TRIP TO THE WILD SIDE!
As you plan your summer road trips and destinations, don't forget about Keepers of the Wild. Get your kicks on Route 66 and have a great time making memories while supporting our nonprofit wildlife sanctuary. 100% of admission and gift shop sales go directly toward the care of the animals.
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SAYING GOODBYE TO JUANITA
On Monday morning, we were tasked with the heart-wrenching decision to say goodbye to our beloved tiger, Juanita. Diagnosed with advanced lymphoma, a type of cancer, euthanasia was the kindest and most humane option for Juanita. We never allow animals to suffer and always ensure dignity and respect with each passing.
Juanita joined the KOTW family in 2022 and shared a beautiful life and habitat with her sister, Eva. Unlike most animals who come to the Sanctuary, Juanita was loved and well-cared for by the Florida sanctuary that transferred her to our care. We, along with Juanita's previous caretakers, will always remember her as a playful, intelligent, and sweet girl. She will be deeply missed.
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QUICK FACTS:
- Keepers of the Wild is home to BamBam, a gorgeous adult female grizzly bear. BamBam joined the Sanctuary family in 2014 at the tender age of just two years old. Our loveable, fuzzy ball of mischief was originally used as a working animal act, but when her owner received a lucrative offer to move his show to the city, BamBam was not invited or welcomed. Her owner called sanctuaries and zoos across the country, and nobody was willing to take poor BamBam for the simple fact that she is a grizzly bear and was 48 hours shy of "euthanasia" when KOTW jumped into action to save her. Grizzlies (and bears in general) are among the toughest animals to place with a reputable and capable facility because: 1) they are expensive to feed and provide medical care for; 2) additional security measures are required, which can be costly; and, 3) grizzly bears carry a misguided reputation for being more aggressive than other species of bears and require a certain level of expertise to care for.
- Grizzly bears are indigenous to mountainous areas such as Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, southern Colorado, and parts of Canada. Our rugged Arizona mountain location is an ideal setting for BamBam to thrive.
- Thanks to movies, when you think of a grizzly bear, an image of a massive brown bear with a large hump on its back ready to pounce is probably what comes to mind. The truth is, many grizzly bears are surprisingly small— BamBam included! Female grizzlies weigh an average of 250-350 pounds. BamBam weighs in around the 300-pound mark.
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Like black bears, grizzlies typically hibernate* in the winter and can easily survive many months without food or water during that time. They survive by awesome adaptive skills—lowering their body temperature by as much as 12 degrees and slumbering to conserve energy, which forces their bodies to break down fat stores to convert to energy. BamBam eats very little during the winter months—hardly anything at all, and then wakes up "hangry" in the spring, ready to devour her favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and other goodies!
- Grizzly bears are considered to be a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, but it is legal to hunt them in the Northwestern Territories, the Yukon, and Canada.
(Species Spotlight courtesy of Lara Kraft, Keepers of the Wild Vice President, Chairwoman and Media Director)
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HERE'S A JOKE FOR YOU!
Q. How do grizzly bears travel when they go on vacation?
A. They fly on bear-planes!
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MEET THE WORLD-FAMOUS GRIZZLY BEAR!
A female bear named "Grizzly 399" is considered by many to be the most famous bear in the world. She lives in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming and is 28 years old. She and her many cubs and grand-cubs are favorite subjects of wildlife photographers and nature lovers, and she has been featured on TV specials, children's books, T-shirts and more. A program about her debuted on PBS last month entitled "Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons." This famous bear just emerged from hibernation in April with a handsome new cub named Spirit!
*VOCABULARY WORD OF THE WEEK: HIBERNATE
"To sleep through the winter in a den or burrow to save energy." - via kids.wordsmyth.net
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ENTER THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA CONTEST!
Today's trivia contest offers you a chance to win the awesome prize shown above. Congratulations to last week's winner, Elizabeth S. To enter this week's contest, just find the answer to the question below on our website. Good luck!
HERE'S HOW TO ENTER: Visit the Meet Our Staff page of our website and find the answer to this question: In what year did Lara Kraft join Keepers of the Wild?
Email us your answer by Tuesday, June 11. One random entry in the Trivia Contest will win a Fahlo Lion Tracking Bracelet. Each bracelet comes with information about a real lion to track! Learn more about this fierce Fahlo bracelet here.
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PLEASE NOTE: We are behind on shipping prizes and will get the packages out as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Thank you! * s. | |
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For more information about Keepers of the Wild and how you can get involved, please contact us or visit the WAYS TO HELP page on our website.
Thank you for supporting our mission to provide a fur-ever home for abused, neglected, abandoned or surrendered animals, where they know they are always cared for and loved!
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Keepers of the Wild
13441 E Hwy 66
Valentine, AZ 86437
(928) 769-1800
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