lions and tigers and bears...oh my!

What, you say do lion and tigers have to do with Montana? Well, a couple of days ago I saw them right here in Montana. There is a house that I pass by everytime I travel to the east frm Heron. It has sculpted elk, bear,and other animals in front of the building. It looks like an old business of some type because it is very large. It also has big black bars covering all the windows. From the front it appears deserted. But it actually has a family living in it, and they are licensed to rescue wild animals. They have two tigers and I stood only five feet from one of them, with just a chain link fence between us. There was an electric fence there also but it was turned off as I was going to need to climb over it to get in the house. They have a bobcat that runs around the house freely. In talking with the owners I learned that they rescue only carnivores. They told me that they had one bear at this time and they would be keeping her because she is five yars old and very small. They called her a midget bear. They told me about the many bears that they have raised and released into the wild who continue to come back "home" to vsit nightly. Then they showed me pictures on their digital camera taken the evening before, of multiple bears in their yard (that I had just walked through to get to the house). There were about eight black bears of various sizes and one grizzly bear. This house is about 7 miles by road to my house but actually only about 3 miles if the animals crossed the river directly to my side. I had no idea that there was a grizzly so near! We talked for a long time about where they get the animals and what they do with them. They are very interesting people. I hope to talk wth them again someday about the things that they have done with animals. They have a whole wall of windows that face the yard where the bears gather each evening. They will be recieving another wild animal soon...I think they said a bear. They do not take money from the government because then they would not be allowed to release them back into the wild. While they treat them like pets, they do not keep them forever if they are able to live in the wild. The wife told me that of all the wild animals that they have had only one was unteachable...her little dog! Well that is the end of the lions, tigers and bears story [sorry no lions at this time]. Love Cathy PS please excuse typos, as I am not wearing my contacts at this time and cannot see what I am typing...