Bear World

Somewhere near Rigby, Idaho there is a place called Bear World.  It has...you guessed it..Bears!  It also has an albino elk, moose, wolves, swans, geese, ducks, and a petting zoo.  This is Grandma Judy's favorite place to take visitors.  So off we went!  

It was cool to see so many bears up close (from the safety of our moving car).

We fed the ducks and swans and took funny pictures.

In the petting zoo we fed baby goats, tried to get a fat pig to move (he would not) and looked at chickens and a few baby deer (fawns?).

Adell and Colter wanted their picture alone with this baby deer.  Adell was first...success...

Colter was second and that baby deer had had enough.  He turned on Colter and started chasing him.  Colter couldn't escape and the deer started trampling him.  Colter was freaked out!  I already had my phone out and was poised to take an adorable photo when the situation dissolved in an instant.  I still took a picture...high quality parenting right there.

As I scooped my terrified baby up off the ground to examine his injuries he cried and cried.  I took him out of the petting zoo and snuggled him on a park bench.  Through choked sobs Colter cried out "That baby deer was a SAVAGE!"  So much for any of the other kids dreams of having a pet of any kind.  Colter is going to be terrified of animals for the rest of his life. 

We went on a few little rides they have a Bear World, ate a picnic lunch and watched the baby bears being fed.  It was a cool thing to see...all of it...except the savage baby deer. 

After Bear World we packed up and said our good byes to our Idaho family.  It was time to get on the road and see some more family...that's how we vacation...seeing family...it is relaxing...

Oh, while we were at Bear World we got a text from Will.  He had borrowed a friend's satellite phone and was able to send a few texts.  Mostly to tell us he was safe or report an injury and request rescue.  Anyway, the first message we got from Will was something like "all is well. please report a fire at lat. something and long something"  So Judy and I spent some time looking up phone numbers and reporting a fire.  Later Will sent a message that all was well and that they saw the helicopters circling the fire...so I guess that worked.