Today I started out at 8 am and did my first bus tour at 8:45!  It was a bus of Australians and they were so happy and excited to see the big bears (two brown and one grizzly).  Thank god they were out and about since I left the salmon burger I was planning on using to entice them to come out in the kitchen.  They have 18 acres (the largest bear enclosure in North America) so they aren't always visible.  JB was loving the spot light as he was sitting up and posing for the cameras.  The group thought it was the funniest thing.  The tour went well and it was nice to get over that initial first tour hump.  I also had a chance to do one more tour, also Australians.  Both bus drivers were extremely laid back and nice which helped calm the presentation nerves.  I also got to spend time with Jewelie as Doug Lindstrand, an amazing Alaskan photographer that takes MANY pictures at the center, caught me feeding her breakfast.  The rest of the day was full of feedings, trash duty, and gardening!  Erin, Nicole, and I got started on planting the center's garden by planting some onions.  As I was giving the elk some bananas some of the center's visitors pointed out another baby elk had just been born.  Sure enough there was a wobbly legged baby taking it's first steps.  We're up to three now!  I got to top the day off by bottle feeding Walter and Hamm.  We advertised this feeding so there was a small audience...of course Walter was extra hungry and rambunctious sucking my finger like crazy in between my legs while Hamm was finishing up his bottle haha.  On my walk back to the intern bunkhouse I noticed Toquka being super active and playing with an antler in the water.  It was so entertaining to watch...priceless.  Sarah, a returning intern, also came in today.  We wrapped up the evening by celebrating Jack's (one of the moose) 4th bday.  He was chowing down on the watermelon and bananas he got as a treat.  One of the continuous donors of bananas (Cindy I think?) even made a cake for us interns along with another big box of bananas.  Overall another great day interning at the center.

*courtesy of Doug Lindstrand