SEATTLE, 2015-6-4 — /Travel PR News/ — Pike Place Fish Market returns to Woodland Park Zoo for its world-famous salmon toss to grizzly bears on Thursday, June 4
WHAT: Pike Place Fish Market returns to Woodland Park Zoo for its world-famous salmon toss to grizzly bears on Thursday, June 4. The salmon toss kicks off the very popular Bear Affair: Living Northwest Conservation Day presented by Brown Bear Car Wash. Bear fans are welcome to watch the fishmongers’ amazing aerial stunts and the bears chomping on salmon, a favorite treat for the grizzly bear brothers.
In commemoration of Bear Awareness Week, proclaimed by Governor Jay Inslee to be May 31-June 6, 2015, Bear Affair puts the spotlight on bears, wolves, raptors and other Pacific Northwest wildlife. Zoo-goers will become more carnivore-smart by learning what these animals need to survive in the wild, how to help keep them safe and what humans can do to peacefully coexist. Meet zookeepers and conservation experts from Western Wildlife Outreach, Wolf Haven, National Parks Conservation Association, Conservation Northwest and National Park Service. Karelian bear dogs will be back to demonstrate how the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife partner dogs play an essential role in training nuisance bears and cougars to avoid human contact.
WHEN: Pike Place Fish Market salmon toss: Thursday, June 4, 10:30-10:45 a.m.
Bear Affair: Living Northwest Conservation Day presented by Brown Bear Car Wash: Saturday, June 6, 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Grizzly bear exhibit at the zoo’s Northern Trail. Meet PR staff at the West Entrance at Phinney Ave. N. between N. 55th & N. 56th Sts. or head to the grizzly exhibit. Park in the Penguin Lot at N. 55th St. & Phinney Ave. N. or Otter Lot off N. 59th St. & Phinney Ave. N.
WHO: Pike Place Fish Market and the zoo’s grizzly bear brothers, 21-year-old Keema and Denali. The bears arrived at the zoo in 1994 from Washington State University, which maintains a small collection to conduct a long-term study on bear nutrition.
INFO: Bear Affair: Living Northwest Conservation Day presented by Brown Bear Car Wash is Saturday, June 6, 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at Woodland Park Zoo. A complete schedule of activities can be found at www.zoo.org/bearaffair
Approximately 25,000-30,000 black bears exist in Washington; biologists believe there may only be a handful of individual grizzly bears in the North Cascades and 50-70 in the Selkirk Ecosystem of northeast Washington.
COST: Bear Affair is free with zoo admission or membership. Summer hours: 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. daily. For more information or to become a zoo member, visit www.zoo.org or call 206.548.2500.
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Media contact: Gigi Allianic, Alissa Wolken 206.548.2550 | woodlandparkzoopr@zoo.org