Bear Gardens
Phase 1 Completed June 2024
We brought in some of the world’s foremost experts in creating zoological garden designs that prioritize an animal’s ability to thrive. The result is a blueprint for a new bear garden that provides over an acre of natural features for each bear.
Thanks to the generous contributions of our supporters, we completed Phase 1 of the Bear Gardens project and introduced the bears to their new home in June 2024. Our Master Site Plan includes additional bear gardens designed to meet the needs of black bears.
Meet the Bears
Ramble and Bramble are Hokkaido brown bears that came to us from the film industry. Rambunctious and full of mischief, their personalities provide no shortage of entertainment for our staff and visitors alike. Whether they’re lounging in their hammocks or splashing in their ponds, these brothers give us a profound appreciation for the nature of bears and their unfettered enjoyment of life.
Bringing the Dream to Life
We partnered with architects from the Epsten Group and Ursa International, who specialize in animal environments, to ensure this project is bear-driven, providing the best habitat possible to fulfill the physical, mental, and emotional needs of our sanctuary bears.
Our goal is to give our bears the safety and care of sanctuary life with the richness and diversity of life in the wild. The new bear gardens allow visitors and supporters—whether in person or through photos and videos—a chance to connect personally and intimately with each unique bear, and experience the power of Reconnection Ecology®.
Want to learn more about what it’s like to build state-of-the-art animal enclosures like these? Read our Bear Garden Diaries!
Thriving in the Bear Gardens
Since being moved into their new enclosures in the summer of 2024, Ramble and Bramble have enjoyed doing more of what bears do most naturally—from foraging for native plants and berries to climbing to a high point to see the land around them, then cooling off and playing in their own freshwater pool before taking a rest in their sheltered den.
The Next Phase
The next stage of our Master Plan is building a second wolf garden and a new small (in size only!) animal garden. Our ambitious plans for growth at Earthfire Institute include enriched habitats for all of our animals, implementing permaculture principles, establishing self-sufficiency through water retention and solar energy, and creating state-of-the-art facilities for animal care, land stewardship operations, and providing paradigm-shifting visitor experiences.
With your continued support, we can become the model for wildlife sanctuaries around the world.