Bear Trust International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife conservation organization founded in 1999 to help conserve all eight species of bears through three program areas: conservation education, wild bear research and management, and habitat conservation. Combined, these programs address the many contexts that are necessary for effective wildlife conservation. Bear Trust International envisions a world where wildlife prospers in its natural habitat while coexisting with environmentally sensitive economic development.
Bear Trust Mission: Bear Trust International is a conservation organization working for wild bears and other wildlife. Bear Trust believes that wild bears in their natural habitat are key indicators of ecosystem health. Bear Trust strives to reinforce ecosystem viability through habitat conservation and education projects that build on available research.
Bear Trust Core Program Initiatives: 1) Conservation Education, 2) Wild Bear Research and Management, and, 3) Habitat Conservation Bear Trust Goals: 1) Conserve and enhance wild bear populations, other wildlife, and their natural habitats, 2) Foster cooperation among governments, federal and state agencies, public and private organizations, and individuals in wildlife management and habitat conservation, 3) Promote international research and program funding for wild bear and habitat projects, and, 4) Educate the public about the impact of the world's population on wild bears, other wildlife, and natural resources.
Bear Trust Objectives: 1) Promote sound stewardship of the world's bear populations, 2) Promote large, linked bear ecosystems, where the concept of bear habitat is increasingly defined from the point of view of the bear, rather than being limited by geopolitical boundaries, 3) Publish information about bears and their habitats in easily accessible formats so that critical, basic information is available to a broad international base, 4) Develop international, grassroots support for bear conservation, 5) Develop a presence in international decision-making circles to impact policies that affect bear populations, and, 6) Provide the public with contacts and information that assist them in minimizing property damage and nuisance-related problems.
This bear has a radio collar on, which allows scientists to track bears and determine which areas bears use. Children will have access to some of the radio telemetry data that we collect on research bears in New Jersey. These real-time data will be posted on Bear Trust's website so that children can use the data to design their own mini research projects! The goal is to teach children about conservation, science, math, and bear biology using a fun, hands-on approach. Check out this fun project at www.beartrust.org!
