The American Bear Association/ Vince Shute Sanct.

WILD Black Bears need YOUR help!

Many years ago, a Minnesota logger named Vince Shute made a decision that changed the way people think about black bears. When bears began breaking into his cabins, Vince realized they weren’t mean — they were simply hungry. Instead of shooting them, he chose compassion. That choice began his lifelong journey of peaceful coexistence with the wild black bears of northern Minnesota.

Today, the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary carries on that legacy. While we now know bears should never be fed, the unique situation Vince created offers an incredible opportunity to study, protect, and educate. Our sanctuary provides a safe haven for wild, free-roaming bears and gives visitors the rare chance to see them as they truly are — nursing their cubs, playing, foraging, and living naturally in their forest home.

Our mission is simple yet vital: to promote peaceful coexistence between humans and bears.

This year, your Give to the Max donation is more important than ever. Warmer temperatures have caused our season to start earlier in the spring and extend further into the fall — sometimes by several months. This means the bears are arriving hungry sooner and staying active longer, dramatically increasing the amount of food we need and the length of time our dedicated staff must be on-site to care for them.

Quite simply, we cannot feed the bears or keep our experienced staff on without your help. Every gift ensures the bears have the food they need to stay healthy and that our small but devoted team can continue caring for them and educating the public about how to live peacefully alongside these incredible animals.

As we approach Give to the Max Day, please help us continue Vince’s legacy of compassion and coexistence. Your support directly feeds the bears, sustains the people who care for them, and keeps this one-of-a-kind sanctuary alive for generations to come.