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
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.
On (9/18/2018) Munsey’s weight is 755pounds and Boda’s weight is 893 pounds. This photograph was taken on 10/18/2018. Today is the three year anniversary of Munsey and Boda’s arrival at Marshfield’s Wildwood Zoo for three years.
The photograph above was taken on 11/1/2015, Munsey and Boda were about 120 to 125 pounds.
In 2015 the JP Kodiak Bear Exhibit looked like the photograph above and the cubs were markedly smaller than then the tree’s in the habitat area.
Today, new tree’s have been placed in the JP Kodiak Bear Exhibit and when Munsey and Boda had the opportunity to explore the tree’s, they quickly began to demonstrate their branch management skills throughout the afternoon.
The photograph above was taken of Boda in October 2015. The photograph below was taken on 10/18/2018.
Munsey and Boda never disappoint, when it comes to being interactive and sometimes even a little death-defying in regards to their behavior with each other and/or as individual characteristics.
Sometimes they’ll appear to be hugging each other and truly seem at peace with each other and the next minute they’ve into a full force wrestling match!
Munsey loves to play and toss his collection of field stones whenever given the opportunity. I’ve documented him tossing his stones for 30 minute periods of time, multiple times throughout the day.
When Munsey was finished with tossing field stones he decided to climb about 25 feet up a tree to retrieve some tender leaves and branches.
As much as I enjoy photographing Munsey and Boda climbing up a tree, I really wish they’d stop climbing trees! Munsey is about 840 lbs. and Boda is 860 lbs. on 8/29/2018. The boys an about 3 1/2 years old at this time.
My next book titled ” Swamp Stories” is in the process of being printed at this time and will be available at iMAGiNETHAT! Art Studio during the Northwoods Art Tour scheduled for October 5-6-7 from 10:00 am-5:00 pm. My studio is listed as Number #14, located just a mile north of Lakland Airport on Lake Bayer road. To learn more about the Northwoods Art tour go to the following link. http://www.northhwoodsarttour.com
Munsey’s special talent is to collect rocks and stones and place them on his nose or forehead and toss them up into the air and hit them with his paw.
Munsey has been perfecting his technique in stone throwing for the past two years.
This morning Munsey was kind enough to demonstrate just how well he can throw these rocks while swimming in the pond located at the Wildwood Zoo in Marshfield, Wisconsin.
Munsey and Boda had a wet and wild afternoon pool party as they enjoyed each others company swimming in the 13-foot swimming hole located in the JP Adler Kodiak Bear Habitat Area at Wildwood Zoo in Marshfield WI.
These two loving brothers really can play rough with each other but it’s all fun and Games for these two guys!
(left to right Munsey and Boda) When I first arrived at the zoo this afternoon Munsey and Boda were taking a nap! Well, kind of taking a nap!
So if you happen to be visiting Munsey and Boda, remember if they are sleeping, it’s because they probably had a very active morning or play time. Once they’ve rested up, they are usually up and about chasing each other, swimming in the pool or in the pond.
Regardless of what these two boys are up to, I always find them endlessly entertaining to watch and document! In the two hours, I spent documenting the bears today at Wildwood Zoo I shot about 200 photographs of Munsey and Boda.
While I don’t like to dwell on our extended winter weather, this is what the first half of the month of April 2018 looked like in Marshfield, Wisconsin at Wildwood Zoo.
Even Munsey and Boda were looking forward to the snow melting and the fresh green grass and tender leaves emerging from the buds on the trees!
While I enjoy watching Munsey and Boda climb the tree’s in the Bear Woods, I’m ready for them to stop their climbing for safety reason’s. That’s 850 pounds of Kodiak bear up in that little tree!
On April 19th the weather began warming up and the pond in the Bear Woods no longer was ice covered, which allowed Munsey and Boda to enjoy swimming and water wrestling once again.
A favorite pastime for Munsey is finding a rock from the pond and trying to place it on the bridge of his nose and flip it into the air, while trying to catch it in his paw.
Munsey has practiced and refined his rock throwing techniques over the past two years and I have seen him successfully flip that rock into the air and smack it a couple of feet across the pond.
Meanwhile Boda is examining a large log floating in the pond.
I believe that Munsey has put in his application in maintenance management control, hoping to regulate the water distribution throughout the Bear Woods and JP Adler Kodiak Bear Habitat Exhibit.
The overflow from the large upper pond, allowed standing water for Munsey and Boda to enjoy. The extra water also created an opportunity for frogs and other small creatures to thrive in that area as well. So Munsey would spend hours pacing back and forth creating a deep muddy path, while hoping to capture a little creature that might happen to come his way!
Where there is a spout, there is water, regardless how far out of reach it might be for these guys!
It’s always wonderful to capture the connections between the zoo guests or staff members and the Kodiak bears Munsey and Boda!
This selection of photographs were taken on my birthday. I spent about an hour watching Munsey and Boda relaxing in the JP Adler Kodiak Bear Habitat area and then splash around in the pond located in the Bear Woods. Munsey’s weight is about 760 lbs. and Boda’s weight is about 840 lbs.
On April 20th, 2018 Munsey’s weight is about 760 lbs. and Boda’s weight is 840 lbs.
On January 2016 Munsey’s weight was 175 lbs. and Boda’s weight is 185 lbs.
On January 9, 2017 Munsey’s weight was 506 lbs. and Boda’s weight was 545 lbs.
On February 1st, 2018 Munsey’s weight was 680 lbs. and Boda’s weight is 760 lbs.
