BEARS OF THE NORTHEAST

Presented by Felicia Orton

What started as a modest interest over 25 years ago has developed into an overwhelming admiration and passion. In the early 1980’s Felicia began studying bears, their life style, physiology, behavior and natural history. The more she learned, the more intrigued she became with these incredible creatures, and the more she wanted to learn. Along with reading books and trade journals, Felicia began attending lectures by naturalists and bear biologists. In the mid 1990’s she decided to become involved with education and outreach. She became a docent at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo where there were ongoing opportunities to educate the public. Felicia developed an educational program which has since become ‘The Bear Reality’. In 2002 she became a Master Wildlife Conservationist (a volunteer certified program) for the state of Connecticut, allowing her to expand her knowledge and audience. She has continued her own education by attending workshops and participating in field work with bears. Felicia’s hope is that through outreach and education these magnificent creatures will become better understood -- we will learn to respect them instead of fear them, and develop a strategy of human-bear coexistence.