'For The Grizzly' - Kula Cloth ® for a Cause
True story: When I was a kid, I went to Glacier National Park on a hike to Iceberg Lake. There was a family hiking a few hundred yards in front of us, and so our ranger-led group was surprised to see them walking back towards us... looking slightly pale. Very shaken, they told us that they had rounded a corner and seen a mother grizzly bear and her two cubs. They had slowly backed away, and avoided a negative encounter with the bear. The ranger leading our group was chipper: "Let's just make a lot of noise, and the bear will be gone!"
I was only 13 years old, but I still remember our entire ranger-led group singing loudly as we rounded the bend. The ranger wasn't wrong: the bear was gone.
I've had the fortunate experience of seeing a few Grizzly Bears -- all of them at Yellowstone National Park. These animals were revered and respected by the indigenous populations that once shared a habitat with the bears. Sadly, as pioneers moved west, the Grizzly Bear populations were all but destroyed.
Now, scientists and biologists are working hard to protect Grizzly Bears and to help restore their natural habitats and population. We're so thrilled to be able to contribute to The Vital Ground Foundation -- an organization that helps to conserve and protect bears and reduce human and bear conflict.
About the cause, The Vital Ground Foundation:
Vital Ground is an accredited land trust that protects habitat for grizzly bears and all things wild in the Northern Rockies of the United States. They envision a permanently connected landscape that ensures the long-term survival of grizzlies and the many native species that share their range. They also partner with local communities to prevent conflicts between bears and people. Since 1990, they have worked with partners to conserve and enhance over 1 million acres.
A portion of the proceeds from this Kula will be donated to The Vital Ground Foundation.
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You can learn more about The Vital Ground Foundation here:
About the photographer, Chrissy Shammas
Chrissy Shammas is a wildlife and nature photographer from Chesapeake, Virginia. After earning a B.F.A. in Cinema from Virginia Tech, Chrissy headed west to the Rocky Mountains, where they now spend my time searching for wildlife in our National Parks and public land.
You can find Chrissy online here: CHRISSY SHAMMAS PHOTOGRAPHY
And on Instagram, here: Chrissy Shammas Photography Instagram
Additional resources:
If you're fascinated by Grizzly Bears (and who isn't!), please check out Kevin Grange's book, Grizzly Confidential - it's an amazing look at the complexity of these incredible creatures.
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