Facilites
The captive bear facility currently has 6 indoor dens-outdoor runs, a 2.2 acre exercise yard, kitchen with walk-in refrigerator and freezer, and a medical room. These facilities were salvaged from the remains of an older primate research facility. The captive facilities initially housed both American black bears and grizzly bears. In more recent years, only grizzly bears have been housed at the facility because 1) the number of pens was inadequate to have enough individuals of two species for most research projects and 2) the most pressing research needs were on grizzly bears. Dr. Robbins and his graduate students demonstrated that virtually anything that could be done with other animals can be done with grizzly bears, thus many other investigators have requested permission to study the captive bears.
Personnel
Drs. Charles Robbins (Director) and Lynne Nelson (Assistant Director) oversee the daily operation of the WSU Bear Center. Dr. Robbins has been studying the nutrition and ecology of bears for over 20 years. Dr. Nelson, who has advanced degrees in both wildlife biology and veterinary medicine, is responsible for veterinary care of the captive bears and has an extensive research program directed at understanding heart function, particularly in hibernating bears. Additional faculty have ongoing research programs dealing with bear physiology, behavior, nutrition, and ecology. They are joined byseveral graduate students, technicians and undergraduate assistants. Graduate students often have the opportunity to work with both captive and wild bears. When working with wild bears, the students are under the direct supervision of biologists working with various state and federal natural resource agencies. Up to 7 undergraduates are given the opportunity to work with the captive bears during each semester. Their responsibilities include cleaning, feeding, and caring for the bears on a daily basis. They may also assist in ongoing research programs.
Bears
The number of bears in the captive population fluctuates depending on research needs, but the average population has been eight to ten bears ranging in age and weight from newborn cubs weighing less than a pound to 21-year-old males weighing as much as 830 pounds. All of the current bears were either orphaned as cubs or re-homed wild bears that became too comfortable in close proximity with people. Undergraduate and graduate students majoring in wildlife, zoology, or biology clean the pens and feed the bears daily from April to November. During hibernation, the bears do not eat or defecate and, thus, do not require daily care.
New Bear Center Proposal
A coalition of scientists who have studied bears for the past 22 years at Washington State University are proposing to create a National Bear Center, which will be the first in North America to provide adequate facilities for the wide diversity of modern bear research.
Read the proposal »
Role of the National Bear Center in Student Education
Universities are sites where students learn and develop skills necessary for professional careers. Washington State University has always had a strong focus on biological sciences, environmental sciences, and natural resource sciences. Both undergraduate and graduate students eagerly seek opportunities for professional careers in these fields. The WSU Bear Center gives many students the opportunity to get personally involved in conservation, education, animal care, and research. The Center provides many paid and volunteer positions that are filled by students.
Faculty across various colleges on campus have ongoing research programs dealing with bear physiology, behavior, nutrition, and ecology. They are joined by several graduate students, technicians and undergraduate assistants. Graduate students often have the opportunity to work with both captive and wild bears. When working with wild bears, the students are under the direct supervision of biologists working with various state and federal natural resource agencies. Up to 7 undergraduates are given the opportunity to work with the captive bears during each semester. Their responsibilities include cleaning, feeding, and caring for the bears on a daily basis. They may also assist in ongoing research programs.