Left to right: VP Ann Pizzitola, Amber Walden (principal of the Mammoth-San Manuel Unified School), and Treasurer Riley Jackson
Kay Sullivan
Members filled the West Ballroom for the November meeting, because the presentation was about “The Life of Black Bears,” by Sandy Reith, now a volunteer and recent retiree from the Pima County Conservation Lands Resources. With the recent bear activity in SaddleBrooke, this was a timely subject, and I wish we could have recorded it. Sandy shared some interesting tidbits, such as baby bears are only 8 ounces when born, compared to a human baby which is 8 pounds. The mother just keeps on sleeping during hibernation while the cubs figure out how to nurse on their own.
Before the presentation, Vice President Ann Pizzitola and Treasurer Riley Jackson presented a check for $680 to Ms. Amber Walden, the principal of the Mammoth-San Manuel Unified School (K-12) so that the biology students could take a tour of the Biosphere in February. Ms. Walden shared that this will be the first-ever field trip for her students.
Irene Somes had the winning raffle ticket and received the book Arizona Highways Wildlife Guide and a cute black bear puppet.
December’s program will be “What Are Those Holes in the Ground?” by Tom and Jerry, our local naturalists. Stay tuned in the new year for more programs and a field trip in late January.