Biology Senior Trades Toledo for Sitka, Alaska, to Care for Rescued Bears

Biology Senior Trades Toledo for Sitka, Alaska, to Care for Rescued Bears

Toby likes snacks, attention and getting plump before winter. She also weighs considerably more than your average roommate.

Toby is an Alaskan coastal brown bear, and Lelah Coleman, a UToledo senior studying biology, spent her summer caring for Toby and the sanctuary's seven other bears.

Coleman interned at Fortress of the Bear, a sanctuary in Sitka, Alaska, that provides lifelong care for bears orphaned as cubs. Home to five brown bears and three black bears, the sanctuary works to reduce human-bear conflict through education, action and community engagement.

Her path to Alaska started on campus. At a UToledo career fair, Coleman asked about openings at the Toledo Zoo.

"I had volunteered at the Toledo Zoo for three months and was able to shadow other fellow keepers, where I was able to find connections to other internship opportunities," she said.

At the career fair, she was also pointed to the website of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which lists internships, job openings and volunteer positions at accredited facilities across the country. Checking it became a habit, and that's where she found the Fortress of the Bear internship.

Coleman had never met a bear before but still jumped at the opportunity to work with them.

"I was heavily intrigued by this internship because of the chance to work with brown and black bears," she said. "I got to learn about their routine and phase changes throughout the season and gain experience with medication and diet preparation."

Her favorite was Toby, who has lived at the sanctuary for 16 years.

"I just love her sassy attitude and personality," Coleman said. "Out of all the bears, she is the most demanding for snacks and will make sure she has your attention. Also, she is just super cute, and I love how plump she gets towards hibernation."

The setting was part of the draw.

"I wanted to see what life would be like living in a completely different environment while also working as a keeper," she said.

In Sitka, Coleman helped feed live salmon to the bears. She also went on boat tours and spotted gray and humpback whales, jellyfish, eagles, minks and wild bears.

"I went kayaking, hiking, tide pooling and enjoyed the many festivities the town had to offer during my stay," she said. "I made many lifelong friends and met many people from all over the globe."

The internship also gave her the public education experience she was looking for.

"I spoke to crowds of around 50-100 people quite often and have met many different individuals, even including UToledo alumni," she said. "I will forever remember the memories and adventures I went through with Fortress of the Bear and do not regret my choice to step out of my comfort zone."