Press release from The Friends of the WNC Nature Center:
The Friends of the WNC Nature Center is excited to announce a new enhancement to the Black Bear habitat at the Nature Center! While the Center’s beloved bears are sleeping in December, a climbing structure has been erected for them.
Funded by the Friends of the WNC Nature Center, this structure will provide a place for the bears to climb, conditioning their muscles as they would in the wild. Animal care staff will take advantage of the new structure to give the bears fun new enrichment activities.
The new addition provides an excellent opportunity for guests to watch the activity of the Center’s bears and appreciate the characteristics that enable them to find feed and protection in the wild. It is positioned in such a way so as to keep the bears as visible as possible to the public.
Two of the WNC Nature Center’s most beloved residents are the black bears Ursa and Uno. Ursa came to the Center as a donation from the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2002, and Uno arrived in 2006. These two are favorites of guests and staff alike.
The bear climbing structure was designed and built by Morganton-based company Beanstalk Builders. Beanstalk Builders creates custom ropes courses, tree houses, climbing walls, ziplines, and other adventure play options, and has done quite a lot of work with zoos throughout the US.
Stop by the WNC Nature Center as the weather starts to warm up to watch Ursa & Uno enjoy their new play space!
Also coming in 2017, the much-anticipated new front entrance complex! This exciting upgrade will feature an events plaza for after-hours events, greater accessibility to all visitors (particularly those who are handicapped or have strollers), more parking, and new guest restrooms. The project includes ADA handicapped parking and ramp, bus drop off with a 70 foot radius turnaround that also provides fire truck access, and swift, safe entry for school groups. This project, funded by the Friends of the WNC Nature Center, the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, and the City of Asheville, with generous donations from several foundations and individuals will break ground in early 2017!
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