Suzie the black bear reaches for her birthday cake made of fruit during a special event Sunday at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray. Suzie came to the park as a cub and is now 30 years old. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
GRAY — One of Maine Wildlife Park’s most famous residents had a tough day Sunday.
Suzie the black bear celebrated her 30th birthday over the weekend with presents, cake and plenty of snacks. The Bear Birthday Bash attracted hundreds of visitors to the park, all hoping to catch a glimpse of Suzie and her enclosure mate, 7-year-old Luvey.
Suzie came to Maine Wildlife as a cub because another facility could no longer care for her. She has had quite a long life for a black bear, an animal that can live 30 years in the wild. Kate Donovan, a zookeeper at the park, has known Suzie for most of those 30 years – even before she started working at the park.
Visitors to the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray watch as Suzie the black bear celebrates her 30th birthday. Spectators were allowed to feed Suzie and her enclosure mate by shooting berries and seeds through a small hole with a leaf blower. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
“I always came here to see Suzie, now I take care of her,” Donovan said.
Suzie, her black fur covered in edible glitter, ripped open packages of dog food and peanut butter and devoured a giant bear-shaped fruit cake baked especially for her by volunteers from the Friends of the Maine Wildlife Park.
Spectators lined up to use a leaf blower to shoot berries and seeds through a small hole in the enclosure, periodically causing a rain of snacks to rain down on Suzie and Luvey.
The snacks and gifts were part of the important recreational activities that Fisheries and Wildlife Service staff provide for all animals in the park.
“When we were planning the event, a lot of it was about what we could do to benefit the bears and see the people,” said zookeeper Taylor Scruton. “We tried to get people involved and give them a chance to participate, while still providing (the bears) with the care they’re used to.”
Attendees Maxim Davis of Old Orchard Beach and Brenna Gibbons of Waterville found out about the event online. But they weren’t just there to celebrate Suzie’s birthday—Davis was turning 30, too. And what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than with your bear birthday twin?
Maine Wildlife Park game warden Katie Donovan presents Suzie with the black bear fruit birthday cake she baked with Jadee Ristich of Friends of Maine Wildlife Park. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
“He loves bears, so it works,” Gibbons said of Davis.
The Friends organization offered limited edition Suzie merchandise to support the park and celebrate the bear’s third decade. Friends President Larry Littlefield and volunteer Babe Paul, both of Gray, have volunteered with the organization for more than 20 years. Among other tasks, the volunteers man the concession stand, maintain the park gardens and raise money for animal care and educational programs.
“I think we did pretty well,” Littlefield said Sunday of the donation numbers. “And the attendance was really fantastic.”
Donovan estimates that in the 29 years she has worked at the park, Suzie has hosted more than three million visitors, each of whom leaves the park with a little more knowledge about Maine’s black bear population.
“It means a lot to me, just the connection I have with Suzie and the opportunity to educate people about her,” Donovan said. “She’s as much an educator as I am and all the other keepers here.”
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