Three-legged bear returns

[Lee Borgersen]

Posted Wednesday, August 7, 2019 6:29 pm


Three-legged bear returns to Shute sanctuary.

 
ORR—A popular three-legged bear has returned for another summer at the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary here, proving that even a bear with a significant disability can live to a ripe old age. The bear, named Schwinn, was first seen as a young bear at the sanctuary in 1999 and has been a regular at the sanctuary ever since. He is believed to be 22 years-old, or about four years older than the average life span for a wild black bear in areas without significant hunting pressure. Even as a young bear, Schwinn was missing most of his front left leg, although it isn’t clear whether it was from an accident or a deformity.

  .....
This year, staff and visitors first sighted Schwinn on July 9 and he has been returning for food most evenings since then. For bears, mid-to-late summer is a period known as hyperphagia, when their desire for food becomes almost insatiable as they seek to put on weight for their coming hibernation.
 
Despite his missing leg and older age, Schwinn is still thriving. The only thing he is unable to do is climb trees like other bears. Although it takes him a little more energy to move around the sanctuary, he still holds his ground and other bears know to move out of his way. You can see Schwinn with his laid-back temperament at the sanctuary lounging on the cedar pile or cooling off in the creek. Schwinn is an incredible bear to see and photograph, yet he is just one of the many fascinating wild bears at the sanctuary.
 
The American Bear Association, a 501©(3) non profit, which operates the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary, was formed in 1995 and is dedicated to promoting a better understanding of the black bear through education and observation. Thousands of people visit the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary viewing platform every year to observe and learn about black bears from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Hours of operations are from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. For more information visit their website at www.americanbear.org.


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[Rebel SS]

If you tied up one foot, you guys could do a REAL show putting on a sack race...
Look just like yer Chi-town Bears.... They could bill you two as Hop'n stop. 

[roony]

I was there back when Vince lived in the trailer house with a high wrought iron fence around it. It was his last logging camp and he started feeding bears for some reason. What a mess it was there.
My five year old son was with me, about 5 feet away from me in the yard and here comes a big ole sow. I told him just to stand still and don't run and don't touch it. It walked right in between us. He still remembers that. My wife and 2 year old stayed in the car.
Somewhere I have a photo that Vince gave us that showed a bear on a platform scale. It weighed over 900 lbs. I think he lured it on the scale with marshmallows. That bear looked like a big blob.

[glenn57]

Back in the 70's and early 80's Itasca county had dumps they would make a road in the woods, dig a big old hole where you throw your garbage. Cars would line up like an outdoor movie theater and watch the bears at dusk.

Some of them doofus people had no respect for those wild bear, it was crazy how close they,d get to them

[roony]

When we got there there weren't any bears. We went into the trailer house and talked to the two old codgers in there and then on the walk back to the car is when we had the close encounter. Otherwise there is no way we would have gotten that close. The rest of the bears we saw we were in the car. Saw my first cinnamon phase bear that day and saw a couple bears getting it on bear style also. 

[mike89]

the one time I stopped there it looked like pigs lining up at the feed bunk!!!  interesting for sure..

[Rebel SS]

the one time I stopped there it looked like pigs lining up at the feed bunk!!!  interesting for sure..

Ya sure that wasn't at someone's reunion?   

[mike89]

the one time I stopped there it looked like pigs lining up at the feed bunk!!!  interesting for sure..

Ya sure that wasn't at someone's reunion?   

 

[LPS]

A few years ago the wife and I were in the area and decided to go see the bears.  It was about 4 in the afternoon.  I was driving my Lincoln at the time.  There was a detour and we thought it probably closed at 5 so I was driving like a madman.  Well we finally got there and it was just opening.  LOL  This SUPER HOT girl in the parking lot came over to tell us what to do.  She bent over to talk to me and I could see all of the way to Texas.  I couldn't hardly look her in the face.  LOL  She was one of the crew there.  We got on the bus and went to the bear spot.  It was a great time.  We bought T-shirts and stuff too.  Would like to go again. 

[Steve-o]

Back in the 70's and early 80's Itasca county had dumps they would make a road in the woods, dig a big old hole where you throw your garbage. Cars would line up like an outdoor movie theater and watch the bears at dusk.

Some of them doofus people had no respect for those wild bear, it was crazy how close they,d get to them

The only reason I know why Zagnut candy bars even exist...

[glenn57]

the one time I stopped there it looked like pigs lining up at the feed bunk!!!  interesting for sure..

Ya sure that wasn't at someone's reunion?   

boar??????? Lee?????????

[roony]

This is what the place looked like when I was there only we were the only ones there and there weren't nearly as many bears. The wrought iron fence around his trailer must have been put up after this was filmed

[Rebel SS]

Wow! That's an accident just waiting to happen. "Bobby, don't pet that......*CHOMP* 

[glenn57]

This is what the place looked like when I was there only we were the only ones there and there weren't nearly as many bears. The wrought iron fence around his trailer must have been put up after this was filmed

is this that fruitcake up by Ely studying "wild bear" habits?????

[mike89]

no that's another feller...

[Lee Borgersen]

the one time I stopped there it looked like pigs lining up at the feed bunk!!!  interesting for sure..

Ya sure that wasn't at someone's reunion?   

boar??????? Lee?????????

Boar & Me kin outrun a tree legged bear any day a da week!  Just fur da record it wasn't a reunion.   It was da Boiler Makers Union.

[Rebel SS]

Ain't no one can run in DAT Union.....too many donuts and cawfee cake!   


I better get outta her before dat big union guy comes after me.....🏃‍♂️

[Lee Borgersen]

Years ago when we used ta stay on Snowbank Lake east of Ely. When a bear got pesky at da resort garbage dump area he would make a mess. Da lodge owner would wrap raw bacon around a spray paint can and when da pesky bear would bite down on da can wit dem jaws......well!

"And now ya know da rest a da story"

[Rebel SS]

Does that work with fat bottomed girls? 

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[LPS]

Now I forgot what I was going to say.   

[Gunner55]

 

[Lee Borgersen]

Does that work with fat bottomed girls? 

Kin ya send me one a dem in poster size fur my office.

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[glenn57]

 

Does that work with fat bottomed girls? 

Kin ya send me one a dem in poster size fur my office.

you and    have seperate bathrooms????????????

[Rebel SS]

Does that work with fat bottomed girls? 

Kin ya send me one a dem in poster size fur my office.

I certainly can do that! 

[Lee Borgersen]

Does that work with fat bottomed girls? 

Kin ya send me one a dem in poster size fur my office.

you and    have seperate bathrooms????????????

Yes because I got tired of gettin my  chewed out fur leavin da seat up! 

[Rebel SS]

Chew her out for leavin' it down! 

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[Lee Borgersen]

Chew her out for leavin' it down!

I already tried dat but it didn't register when da  only has tunnel vision I'd have bedder luck tyrin ta splain it to a tree legged bear (just tryin ta stay on topic here)