vince shute wildlife sanctuary

511kimc

LOVE THIS PLACE~ So happy to be able to see the bears. Excellent place for education and appreciation of the wildlife around us

tonib670

Never saw so many bears all in one place. And so many BIG bears, mama bears and baby bears. Plan to spend some time and visit with the workers about the bears. Bring a good camers for some great pictures.

aurorap153

This is so worth taking the time to see this wonderful "Bear Santuary" I learned so much about the black bears from the knowledgeable volunteers! The history/story of this wonderful haven for bears and how Vince Shute one man made a difference for bears is so touching and inspiring. I pray for its continued success and all those grand volunteers. And don't forget your camara. Peace, Aurora

Jdk_mn

I wouldn't say this too often but this is a must see if in the area. They do put food out for the bears here(see the history as to why) . Well over 20 bears when we were there, several mothers with cubs. Great volunteers provide lots of info. Check the hours open before you go though.

dianac708

wonderful facility where you can view bears in the wild. The facility educates people as to the character and nature of bears people are very informative and nice mostly student volunteers

LCychosz

A great place to visit. We were impressed with the facility, staff and number of bears we were able to observe at close range. Cost was $8 per person. Open 5-8 pm and closed on Monday. You won't be disappointed. Take bug spray, the Mosquitos are numerous.

mnhunter70

If you like seeing wildlife up close in its natural habitat, you need to come here! I would not recommend bringing very small children if they are tired and are having a bad day. The bears are very sensitive to loud noises. However, it is a great learning experience for kids and adults as well. The volunteers are very knowledgeable and share lots of facts about the history of the sanctuary and of bears. There is a cute gift shop for purchasing trinkets, as well as tshirts and sweatshirts. It is amazing that the volunteers walk on the ground feeding these bears while they are unarmed. Bring your camera with a fully charged or extra battery. You will be able to get many great pictures. I most definitely will return if I am ever in the area again, and I highly recommend you take the time to visit this great place!

974brianw

The only unfenced black bear sanctuary in the world. Amazing access to black bears in their natural habitat. Unmatched photo opportunities.

W8181PDkarenh

You will never see so many wild bears in one place. There are wild and free bears, not tame or caged it. Mamas with new cubs come in mid to later May. By August all the bears have their winter coats. You will see bears in trees, bears playing, mamas nursing their cubs, an occasional fight. And the gift shop is fantastic. A lot of people start or complete their Christmas shopping there. The staff is always available to answer questions. A must see for all. The staff is mostly unpaid volunteers usually students of wildlife, ecology, conservation ect. If you are so inclined to bring treats for the volunteers they would be so appreciated and most definitely consumed. The place is addicting many visitors come back several times as it is different each time.

Jilly311

It's a great place to go and see all the bears coming to eat! Very safe (unlike when I was little and you used to just drive in and throw the bears candy bars!). Also very educational!

innerc

We entered the grounds and paid our admission, $8 adults, $4 children. We boarded an old school bus that took us a mile down the road to the viewing platform. The doors opened about an inch from the steps and workers stood on each side of the exit/entrance. The old school bus holds about 40 people. You can return to your car at any time. Buses run back and forth.The platform was large and there were bears everywhere on the ground below. It was thrilling. It was still raining when we arrived. There were cubs resting on tree branches. We saw a mama show her cubs how to climb a tree for protection.They open at 5pm until 8pm which is plenty of time for photos and viewing. The staff is knowledgeable. It's a photographer's dream. In the summer they have Breakfast with the Bears once a monthThey feed the bears a mix of nuts, seeds and dried fruit mixed with a watered down peanut butter. It's a supplement to their diet. They are open in the summertime until Labor Day and are closed on Mondays.I'm surprised I've lived in MN so long and have never heard of this place before.

CelticHeather

Only place in the world you can see so many wild bears in one place. All the bears are there of their own volition. You can literally watch them for hours. Be sure to bring cash and extra camera batteries!

CobyS824

We had a group of 10 ages 6-62 and everyone enjoyed the bears. The staff is knowledgable and interesting, and can answer any questions. We got to see a bear climb a tree right next to the platform, and a mama with 3 cubs. Great experience!

CarolR38

Well worth the back road trip to see all ages of bears and view their habits in their habitat. Cubs were in the trees, older bears were lounging around.

NABCBearsinger

I attended a morning Breakfast with the Bears session- this has to be reserved online and is more expensive than the night visit. It was well worth it. Our group of 12 were the only ones on the deck with lots of great photo ops by the bears. Lots of yearings present. What bears you see will depend on the time of year. Mating season and family break up was done at this time, so there were big males around and females with cubs as well. Staff are all volunteers and are very friendly and generally knowledgeable. They have portapotties so plan accordingly.