My name is Dennis Black Hawk. I’m an American Indian and have had black bears for 14 years. Don’t get the wrong idea, I don’t have the bears as “pets”. NO one should have bears as pets. I have a very small non-profit called the End Of The Trail Refuge in Arkansas. We don’t have a 501(c)3 as we can’t afford it right now even though our paperwork is made out.
I can save a whole lot of typing by giving you this link which will explain why I have the bears. This is the last court case Judge Alito decided before he was appointed to the Supreme Court. I’m the Plaintiff:
Almost every year, the adults have cubs. I raise them and donate them to reputable places like the Memphis Zoo. I will not have the adults “fixed” as we don’t believe in altering wildlife, even though the bears were declawed before I got them when they were cubs and before they were barely able to walk. I would NOT have done that.
Every year, I take the cubs around to schools, etc. and try to educate people that bears are NOT the fearsome predators that they are made out to be, they have just as much right to walk this Earth and share it with all other species, and about American Indian spiritual beliefs on wildlife. I (well I don’t touch a penny) receive donations for the care of the bears. This only last 3 months though. This year we received a total of approx. $ 600.
This year, I cannot find anyone reputable who would take care of the cubs. It’s a long term commitment, as black bears live 25-30 years in captivity. Therefore, I now have the adults and the cubs here.
This year’s donations were used to feed the cubs (very expensive to feed them, as their milk is extremely high fat) and to expand the pen for the adults which is far from finished, as I hate seeing them in a 40 x 40 pen which is the state minimum. I THOUGHT that I’d have a good home for the cubs by now.
For those of you who ask “why don’t you return them to the wild?”, I would tell you that first, it’s against the law to return anything born in captivity to the wild. Secondly, the adults were (unfortunately) declawed and couldn’t defend themselves or dig up grubs and roots. As for the cubs and the adults, they are acclimated to people and would turn out to be a “nuisance” and be killed, not to mention hunting season.
I’m still paying for the cubs’ food out of my own pocket, and I hardly make enough money for myself and my son. The adults eat well, (the male is 600 lbs.), as I receive donations of fruits and vegetables from a local supermarket.
If anyone can help or has any ideas, I would sure appreciate it.
Saturday June 14, 2008, 10:30 pm
I know that returning an animal to the wild would do no good for that animal, so to think of a solution is hard I admit! Here in NZ, we have a man who takes care of rare breeds of lions and tigers, only because a lot of them, would have become extinct. He takes care of them, as you do the bears. I could look on his website if you like and see how he manages to take care of them every year. And also I just want to say , that I am glad that Timber and Tundra, are doing okay! That is wonderful!!
I wish there was some way I could help your efforts. I appreciate anyone who helps and cares for bears, I have not heard about your bear sanctuary. Do you have a website for it?
Thursday April 23, 2009, 4:21 pm
Sorry Brendon, we don't have a website. I wish we did. Trurh is, we're non-profit, but no one has stepped forward to help either financially or otherwise. I see all the people who sign the bear petitions on here (as do I), but I guess everyone is short on money these days. Sorry for the delay in replying, and thanks for caring.
Hi,My name is Dennis
Black Hawk. I’m an
American Indian and have
had black bears for 14
years. Don’t get
the wrong idea, I
don’t have the
bears as pets. NO ONE
should have bears as
pets. I have a very small
non-profit called the End
...
Hi,My name is Dennis
Black Hawk. I’m an
American Indian and have
had black bears for 14
years. Don’t get
the wrong idea, I
don’t have the
bears as pets. NO ONE
should have bears as
pets. I have a very small
non-profit called the End
...
Hi,My name is Dennis
Black Hawk. I’m an
American Indian and have
had black bears for 14
years. Don’t get
the wrong idea, I
don’t have the
bears as pets. NO ONE
should have bears as
pets. I have a very small
non-profit called the End
...
Hi,My name is Dennis
Black Hawk. I’m an
American Indian and have
had black bears for 14
years. Don’t get
the wrong idea, I
don’t have the
bears as pets.
NO one should have
bears as pets. I have a
very small non-profit
called the...
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