2019 Bear Hugs Campaign

Help us reach our Giving Tuesday goal of $4000, a fantastic time to get in your year-end charitable giving. This larger one-time amount helps us pay off bills, pay property taxes, pay for insurance, and put some money in emergency and/or transportation funds. Facebook

While this is our continuing campaign to add 100 new members to our Bear Hugs monthly donor program, we are also remembering and honoring sweet Maple.  

She came in from WA & was only with us such a short time.  We are grateful to Dr. Brourman & the staff at Westvet and Dr. Koob at IHS who stayed in contact with Amy until we could get Maple to Westvet.  You can read more about her on our Facebook page.  She had a gastrointestinal rupture caused by a twist in the intestines.  With Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife approval, we buried her here at IBBR and will plant a maple tree in her honor.  

We are saddened that we won't see this sweet cub grow up and smile as her personality begins to shine through.   Her little body was overwhelmed with issues she wasn't able to fight.  Part of Giving Tuesday will be dedicated to her memory and building up a fund for future bears like her.  We have had few bears die while in rehab and none in the past ten years.  So Maple hit hard and while we understand she chose her time to leave and there was nothing that could be done to save her, it's still difficult.  So if you are already a Bear Hugs member, you can also donate to Giving Tuesday in Maple's memory.  

 If possible, we'd love for you to donate to this once a year campaign and to also consider signing up as a monthly donor - just click on the donate button here or at bearrehab.org or text blackbear to 77948 to become a Bear Hugs monthly member.

Your participation in Bear Hugs helps ensure we can provide for the care of the bears on a daily basis and cover the additional monthly expenses we face to do that.   For under 20¢ a day, you can sponsor the feeding, veterinary care, and transportation, as well as the costs of rehab labor and administrative duties of Idaho Black Bear Rehab.   We are encouraging everyone to become a monthly Bear Hugs member for as little as $5/month. Monthly donations are the foundation for the work we do. Whether it's $5-$10-$15-$25 or whatever amount you can do.   Help us continue to meet all the expenses so IBBR can continue our work each year for years to come. 

Why is the monthly giving so important?

1. It enables IBBR to have a consistent and reliable source of funding.

2. IBBR will be able to concentrate more on the health and welfare of the bears we have instead of soliciting funds.

3. Projects for improving the facility for the bears will be easier to plan for and accomplish.

While in rehab we are able to see the "kid" in the bear that most people never experience. We try to share with pictures and videos so you can at least get a sense of that - you can see the playfulness and fun-loving side of the bear.  When it's time for release, as much as we wish to continue that security for each bear, it's just not possible.  They must now take charge of their life as a wild bear, facing all the challenges and threats that exist in their world.  We understand the sentiment of keeping them safe forever.  However, we have never met a bear who wouldn't trade a life of captivity for even just one day of freedom.  When you recognize the spirit of this bear, how could we as caretakers deny him his freedom?

We are currently running a raffle to increase monthly donors/Bear Hugs members. When we get to 100 new members (We are at 35/100 as of 12/02/19) we will draw a name from the pool of everyone who is a Bear Hugs member (new & old!) to win a beautiful, cozy denim and flannel bear quilt! (Pictured below)

Special Thank You 

To all of you who already joined  IBBR's monthly donor program. You are appreciated for your continuing support.  

2019 Bears in Rehab &

Bear Hug Members Quilt to be Drawn

Your participation as a Bear Hugs Member will aid IBBR in paying all the expenses involved in transporting the bears to rehab from their home state, rehab costs during their average stay of 11 to 15 months (including food, medical, housing), & transportation from rehab back to their home state for release. You can donate below or on IBBR's website & choose the amount of your monthly donation.