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New Campaign: Timed Feeders

In late summer to fall, bears go into hyperphagia: an increase in feeding activity to fatten up before winter. During this period, bears like to forage for at least 18 hours per day! Bear Hollow Zoo staff can use automated feeders to extend the foraging time available for the bears into the evening. Help us purchase three timed feeders so that each of the bears can have their own!

Donate directly to this campaign using the button below, or visit our table to donate at zoo events such as Bear Holloween on October 21, 2022, 5:30-8:30 pm (admission fee required). Please donate today!

Update: This campaign is fully funded! A very successful Zoo Day 2023 put us over the top. Thanks to all our donors and those who purchased animal art on Zoo Day in support of this campaign!

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Quick Campaign: Box Turtle Habitat!

Bear Hollow Zoo needs to build a new habitat within the reptile house for their box turtles: Chip, Beast, Mrs. Potts, Belle, and Madame de la Bouche. All of them reside at Bear Hollow because they have sustained injuries that would make it difficult for them to survive in the wild. Please help us by donating money for materials to build a hutch that will have spaces for them to shelter, climb, and explore!

Donate directly to this campaign using the button below, or visit our table to donate at the zoo on upcoming weekends in August: 13, 14, 27 and 28 (weather permitting). The zoo is ready to build, so as soon as we can raise $850, they can get started! Please donate today!

Update: This campaign is fully funded! Thank you to our generous supporters for making this possible so quickly!

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Enrichment Campaign 2021-2022

Help us purchase sturdy, zoo-tough enrichment items for the larger animals at Bear Hollow Zoo in Athens, GA. Enrichment items like food puzzles and toys stimulate natural behaviors such as foraging, curiosity, and play.

Donate directly to this campaign using the button below, or visit our table to donate at zoo events such as the Bears’ Birthday Party on Saturday, March 19. We’ll have some special birthday gifts for the bears: thanks to donations received so far, we’ve been able to purchase two of the items on the zoo’s enrichment wish list: a feeder tube and a sturdy mirror!

But much more is needed: please donate today!

You can also help us raise funds with some friendly competition! Click Fundraise at the top of the campaign page to start your own fundraising team for this project. Spread the word on your social media and invite your friends to donate and share! 

Items shown are examples of the types of enrichment items that we may purchase. Our actual purchases will be made in consultation with zoo staff and will depend on animal needs and available funds. Your donation to this Friends of Bear Hollow campaign will support purchase of enrichment items and shipping. Up to 10% of donations to this campaign may be used for Friends of Bear Hollow, Inc. administrative expenses.

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Project 60 Removed from SPLOST 2020 at Last Minute

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As many of you may have heard, “Redo the Zoo”, Project 60, was removed at the very last minute by the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) from the list of projects proposed to our mayor and commissioners for SPLOST 2020. We understand that the CAC had difficult decisions to make, but feel that as one of our commissioners stated in a recent meeting: “citizens don’t vote for SPLOST, they vote for projects”. At the discovery meeting last March, Project 60 was at the top of the list of most supported projects. It was only on the very last CAC meeting that this broadly supported project was dropped. Continue reading “Project 60 Removed from SPLOST 2020 at Last Minute”