The Crown of the Continent is the last place in America where grizzlies still venture down from the Rocky Mountains and onto the prairies.
What if it was possible to protect wild places by protecting a single family of animals? As wilderness ambassadors, bears are a barometer for the health of North American forests and ecosystems. If bear populations are thriving, it’s more than likely their natural surroundings are, too.
This short film aims to answer the perennial question: What exactly does a bear do in the woods? (Which, if you’re curious, is: eat, sleep, reproduce, disseminate fruit and plant seeds through their diet, aid in natural selection, scavenge potentially disease-carrying carcasses and contribute to an ecosystem’s biodiversity.)
Produced by Hauser Bears, Wildlife Media and Trifilm Productions, the short film “Why Bears?” hopes to instill in viewers a lasting appreciation for the interconnectedness between bears and wild places.
The Wilderness Society is dedicated to ensuring this animal's remaining ecosystems remain intact. Just south of Canada's Banff National Park, we’re working in the Crown of the Continent—home to the densest and largest grizzly bear population—to prevent future mining and oil and gas development right outside Glacier National Park where these important predators roam.
Photo: DenaliNPS, flickr
The Crown is one of only two continuous ecosystems remaining in the lower 48 states where grizzlies, elk, moose and wolves still thrive. It represents one of the best opportunities in the nation to keep big blocks of wild country connected and healthy.
Wild places aren’t wild without healthy ecosystems. And what bears need, we need. The Wilderness Society encourages people to discover the work being done to protect “bear country.” Together, we can build lasting solutions for healthy wildlife, clean water and a better quality of life for all species who call wilderness home.
Here are six things you can do to support bears:
- Go outdoors and explore nature. See the connections between all living things. Remember, what's good for bears is good for people.
- Learn about a scientist, teacher or organization doing work to protect wild places and the animals that live there.
- Support that scientist, teacher or organization with either your time or your money, or by promoting their work to others.
- Find out what's happening locally in your part of the world, city or neighborhood and get involved.
- Join our social and e-mail networks to find out about opportunities to protect wild habitats.
- Share this movie with your school, community and friends, and help inspire others!
Photo: cletch, flickr