Donations of Supplies and Food for the Bears
Things our bears really enjoy
Would you like to support our bears with material donations? You can check our list to see what our bears would especially love to receive.
Here you can find out which non-perishable and easy-to-store foods or treats we can always use. Contrary to popular belief, bears are omnivores and don’t eat only meat.
We’re also grateful for a wide variety of “craft supplies” that can be used to create, build, and assemble various enrichment objects. These are essential for mentally stimulating the bears and enabling them to live a species-appropriate life.
Wish List
For crafting and building toys:
- Hay bales
- Bamboo canes > 80 mm in diameter
- Wooden rake tines (used ones are also welcome)
- Empty ice cream containers or buckets, 1–5 Liter
- Cardboard tubes > 50 mm in diameter
- Cardboard boxes that can be closed without tape
Exciting scent experiences for the bears:
- Essential oils, e.g., lavender, Swiss stone pine, ...
- Spices, teas, herbs
- Fresh hay
- Sawdust
For assembling and securing enrichment objects:
- Hemp rope, 9–10 mm in diameter, twisted
- Black locust roundwood, 50–300 mm in diameter, up to 3 m in length
Tools for daily work:
- Dehumidifier
- Digital hanging scale, weighing range at least 10 kg, readability at least 10–20 g
You can either send your material donation as a package or, during the season (March through early November), drop it off in person daily between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. at BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach.
Food Donations
Little treats that our bears especially love...
- Walnut kernels
- Walnuts — in shell
- Dried fish
- Peanuts — with or without shells
- Watermelon flakes
- Currently in stock: Jam — strawberry, raspberry, apricot
Please understand that we cannot accept bread, pastries, or other baked goods, as these can cause dental problems in the bears, among other issues! Thank you!
Your Food Donation
Since the bears’ dietary needs and preferences vary, and we have only a small warehouse with limited refrigeration space, we ask that you call us as early as possible to let us know about your food donation. This allows us to make room, determine the bears’ current needs, and adjust our food orders with our suppliers accordingly.
Thank you for wanting to do something good for the bears!
Money Donations
A direct donation to BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach can be made using the following bank information:
BÄRENWALD Bärenschutzzentrum gem.GmbH
- IBAN: AT60 3299 0000 0402 0426
- BIC: RLNWATWWZWE