Vince Shute Bear Sanctuary

Plan your next Minnesota Vacation in Orr where you will find plenty of family activities to choose from!

Black Bear have received a bad rap! This Black Bear Sanctuary in Northern Minnesota is a unique educational opportunity to see black bear and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Thousands of people visits every year to learn the behavior and habitat of the black bear. You might even get the opportunity to view the wild bear that come to this location every summer. The Sanctuary offers an elevated platform for viewing.
The Vince Shute Bear Sanctuary is located on 360 acres that gives the animals a habitat that consists of aspen forests, cedar swaps, beaver ponds, marshes, streams and open areas. Located just 30 minutes from the city of Orr in Northern Minnesota. Orr is about two hours from the harbor town of Duluth Minnesota.
The Bear Sanctuary allows for a wonderful opportunity to view and photograph the intimate world of the normally reclusive black bear. The Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary also provides a most extraordinary setting for a variety of non-obtrusive scientific studies and educational programs relating to the diverse natural resources found within its boundaries.

The mission of the American Bear Association is to promote the well being of the black bear through a better understanding of its behavior, biology, and habitat needs. The sanctuary gives visitors the opportunity to study and observe the bear in their natural habitat and promote their mission thru the educational outreach program. The association hope to raise awareness of the needs of the black bear and increase tolerance and appreciation for this often misunderstood animal
Viewed as a nuisance and erroneously portrayed as a vicious man-eater. As a result, many people view any encounter with a black bear as a negative experience. While it is agreed, they are powerful, strong, and potentially dangerous, black bears are rarely aggressive. With growing numbers of people moving into once remote areas and critical bear habitat, the probability of human/bear encounters has increased. Unfortunately, confrontations often result in the unnecessary death of the bear due to unfounded fears, inexperience, or a lack of tolerance. One way to curtail negative encounters is to promote a change in human attitudes through education. Only through education will people develop a greater respect and appreciation for all our natural resources and allow people and bears to peacefully coexist.

The Sanctuary shows us how important the bear is to our ecosystem, we need to protect their habitat and by doing this other species will benefit as well. The American Bear Association is hoping the Sanctuary can make a difference on the behalf of this remarkable animal. This is a fun and exciting experience! If your planning a family vacation in the Orr, Minnesota area don't miss this experience.