The Riss Family: Bear Country USA

First stop on our road trip. Bear Country USA

Cute little guys trying to find a cool place to snooze. None of them were older than six months.

We saw alot of snoozing bears. Too hot to do much else.

Driving through the park was alittle shocking. Nothing between the animals and us. Trent didn't think these reindeer looked big enough to pull a sleigh!! LOL

Dani and I resting with a bear.

Hailey

One big Elk. And right next to the car. I kept hoping nothing upset him to make him charge us!

This wolf looked more like a dog to me than something dangerous!

This ram kept scratching the ground as if he were ready to charge.

If we could have rolled down the car window, we could have reached out and touch this bear. Mike rolled the window down on Hailey just a little and she flipped out. She was not at all happy at the little joke Mikes did. He rolled it down just a crack and right back up again. She didn't care. She thought for sure it could get her. A few minutes passed and she was fine again. I think it surprised us all because she is the brave, daring one. Not the one afraid of things. Now we know that when it comes to wildlife, don't mess with Hailey! Come to think of it, it wasn't even a bear out in the open. It was a caged up Cougar that had her so upset. Sorry Hailey!

It was feeding time. A truck came by tossing out lunch for the bear. They all recognized the truck because all the bear went running towards it. There were about 80 bear out in this area of the park. It was pretty thrilling to see so many so close!!

He was one of two grizzlies in the park. He was in an enclosed area. On his hind legs, he is one giant of a bear. All the other bear were black bears.

Dani, ready to take him on!

A little odd to see otter in a wild life park.

Cleaning himself up after lunch. We had to remind ourselves that these soft, cuddly looking creatures could take our heads off with one swipe of their paw.