It all started with Girl Scout cookies.

Grace’s troop sold the heck out of them so they earned some money.  We all voted and decided to donate to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, CO.  They let our girls visit for free and the rest of our families tagged along.

Of course I lugged my camera with me…I’ve been itching to take pictures of animals and the squirrels that raid my trash can out front just don’t seem to appeal to me. So, as we walked through the sanctuary (720 acres of rolling grassland) and heard the stories of these beautiful animals I took advantage and got my shots.

Enjoy, and consider visiting them yourself, it’s an incredible organization and well worth your time.

These striking beauties are in a round house getting used to the facility before they are released into one of the habitats

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The black bears were hiding for awhile but quite a few of them soon came out to play…

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bathe…

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and frolick

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We stopped for lunch in a pavillion where the lions can come inside just below you. At one point they started ‘roaring’ and like a little kid I ran to the railing to watch them have a conversation that rattled my bones and quickened my heart.

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Doesn’t this one look so sweet?

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When we first got there these two were faaaaaaar away. On the way back they decided to scoot in for a little close-up.

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No better way to end the day than with a sweet grizzly (I’m sure it’s sweet right?) that we could see right from our car.

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Do you think I could get a bear hug?

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Okay never mind.

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Here’s the site where you can learn more!  www.wildanimalsanctuary.org

Thanks to everyone who gobbled up the girl scout cookies…your $$ was well spent helping to give these animals a better life 🙂