Please check out the link below to take a peek at two art books that I’ve created through The SKETCHBOOK Project. The titles of the two books that I’ve created are: SURIVORS II and A PEEK INSIDE.
SURIVORS II – Library Call Number:375.59-9 A PEEK INSIDE – Library Call Number: 375.59-8
https://sketchbook-project.meteorapp.com/library/S266231
There are days when Munsey and Boda are chillaxing in the winter sun, dreaming of the warmer spring and summer months that will bring the smell and tastes of fresh buds on the trees and little animals running around their habitat area and the refreshing water in their pool and their pond.
The winter in central Wisconsin provides Munsey and Boda a pond full of ice to excavate and Munsey case, it’s a supply of objects to toss into the air!
Boda is more interested in releasing his downed tree trunk, so he can move it around and show off his brute strength.
Munsey and Boda truly enjoy each other’s company and they are never separated from each other for more than 15 minutes. Of course, they are bears and they love to wrestle with each other. On Sunday, February 23rd, I documented the boys wrestling for about 45 minutes out of the 90 minutes I was charting their activities in the Bear Woods Habitat Exhibit.
After about 10 minutes of wrestling Munsey and Boda take a short time out to catch their breath before starting the next wrestling match. They aren’t growling or creating any loud vocal sounds directed at each other, usually just a lot of heavy breathing from the extensive physical activity.
Then it’s time to rest, roll and slide around in the snow and dig up more ice chunks to break apart or toss into the air. At this time Munsey is in the past 900 lbs. and Boda is over 1,000lbs.
Munsey and Boda spent their 5th Bear-thday enjoying meat/blood frozen ice cakes, unwrapping their cardboard birthday boxes filled with fresh fish and other bear-lightful yummy foods hidden in construction themed decorations placed all around the JP Adler Kodiak Bear Habitat Exhibit on Saturday, Feb 22nd, 2020.
There were over 150 zoo guests that attended the bear-thday celebration and the Wildwood Zoo Staff and volunteers worked for many hours preparing for the event and setting up the decorations and interactive educational activity center. Zoo guests brought Munsey and Boda many wonderful Birthday treats that the boys could enjoy over the next few weeks and throughout the years.
Register to participate at the Be the Bunny Event held at Marshfield Wildwood Zoo held on March 25th at 10:00 am!
This bear basket is just one of many silent auction items that you can bid on to help support the Marshfield Wildwood Zoo!
My latest book title “Branch Management” is included in the bear basket, along with other Munsey and Boda themed products, including 10-greeting cards, 1- journal, 3- 5″x 7 “photographs, 1 bear book and two stuffed bears.
I’m not sure where the time has gone but Munsey and Boda are 3 years old today!
(Above) Munsey and Boda 1/2016 – The weight of Boda is about 192 lbs. and Munsey is about 185 lbs.
These two sweet hearts have had many adventures since they were born and it’s a blessing in it’s self that the cubs survived after their mother was shot illegally. Five days after their mother was killed the cubs were rescued by the Dodge Hunting party assisted by Nate Svobda and nursed back to health by the Anchorage Zoo staff and the rest is history!
(Above) Boda and Munsey 2/2017 – Munsey’s weight was around 450 lbs and Boda’s weight was about 470 lbs.
(Above) Munsey and Boda 2/2018 The weight of Munsey is around 720 lbs. and Boda is around 820 lbs.
(Above) Boda and zoo guest 9/2017
(Above) 7/2017 -Myself with Boda
To learn more about Munsey and Boda, check out the books I’ve written documenting the growth and development of these two wonderful Kodiak bears. To purchase these books send an email to wendlandtsusan@gmail.com
(Photograph above) Munsey taking a sniff of the yummy stuff packed into the ice globes.
Munsey and Boda has a grand time chomping down on their frozen fruit globes filled with strawberries, banana’s, raspberries, peanut-butter, coconut, apple slices and a drizzle of honey!
I’m constantly amazed at the size and strength of the bears jaws! The smaller ice globes had at least an inch of ice shell with the fruit snacks packed into the center of the globes and the cubs bite, cracked the shell open without any struggles.
The small ice globes were made from 12 inch balloons and the larger ice globes were made from punch-balls filled with water and cracked open and stuffed with healthy bear snacks.
I observed how well behaved Boda was while Munsey finished off his small ice globe.
I love to play with a variety of materials when I’m creating artwork! If my original prints don’t live up to my expectations, I alter them into a totally new composition.
Sometimes an original prints will sit in a drawer for a couple of years before I figure out what direction to follow. Every January through March I pull out all my misfit children and turn them into totally new compositions, usually collages / mixed media.
I believe that the artwork is waiting for me to develop my skills and that’s when the magic happens! It helps having an open mind and the courage to destroy one piece of artwork to make exciting discoveries and push my boundaries!
iMAGiNETHAT! 