It's time for the MRV Great Amazing Bear Story Contest!
The Mad River Valley Bear Initiative invites you to submit your black bear stories from 2023! Share your story and you might be eligible to win a cool prize! The MRV Bear Initiative is a working group represented by conservation organizations in Duxbury, Fayston, Moretown, Waitsfield and Warren, Friends of the Mad River, the Stark Mountain Foundation, and Sugarbush. Their goal is to collectively improve how we coexist with our calorie-seeking, black bear friends.
With near record bear counts this year it's no wonder there are so many bear sightings in the Mad River Valley. The VT Fish & Wildlife Department estimates 7,000-8,500 bears statewide, a 5 year high with an estimated 2,000 more animals than just a few years ago. As bears seek and compete for new territories to call their own, we find more bears popping up all over our community. It's the perfect opportunity to embrace living in bear country by sharing collective stories, wildlife appreciations, and tips & tricks for our peaceful coexistence!
The MRV Bear Initiative wants to hear your best bear stories from 2023 . Share with others and become eligible to win some cool prizes!
Details:
Craft your story and submit it to the MRV Bear Initiative before Sunday March 10th, 2024. Your story only needs to be long enough to capture our attention. Submit any or multiple formats of recorded media – an essay, pictures, drawings, a link to a video, a poem, a diorama, etc. Choose the format that best fits your story. Selected stories will be shared with the community as educational and inspirational opportunities for all of us to enjoy.
Are you a resident of the Valley?
Would you like to win a bear resistant trash can? Tell us in a sentence or two what you would do with a bear toter and how it would foster bear harmony in your neighborhood. Two lucky winners will be randomly drawn from a list of eligible entries to receive either a 64 gallon or a 96 gallon animal proof/resistant receptacle by Toter®.* Our hope is to increasingly bear-proof our community in order to collectively improve how we coexist with our calorie seeking black bear friends.
Introducing our new children's contest!
Children 14 & under can enter to win one of three bear themed prizes including (i.) plush toy wearable backpack (ii.) Warmies Huggable Black Bear, or a (iii.) 4-foot black bear huggable body pillow. Three lucky winners will be randomly drawn from a list of eligible entries.
Submit your stories here: https://www.madrivervalley.com/stewardmrv/living-with-bears/5-great-amazing-bear-contest/
Nov 28, 2024, 9 to 10 AM
Women's Community Sing with Heidi WilsonNov 30, 2024, 3 to 5 PM
Chess Tournament Dec. 1Dec 1, 2024, 9:30 AM to 3 PM