A troupe of sweet, rescued bears are unknowingly doing their own fundraising. For the past several years, the bears have allowed their trusted keeper to brush their dense fur; the collected fur is spun into yarn to make adorable knitted teddy bears that are then sold at a Christmas auction.
Susan Kowalczik founded Orphaned Wildlife Center (OWC) in Otisville, New York, with her husband, Jim, in 2015. The animal caregiver has worked with their resident rescued bears throughout their lives and has been brushing their fur for years.
(Courtesy of Orphaned Wildlife Center)
The process of collecting fur begins in the spring when the bears start to shed….