Minnesota’s Best-Kept Secret For Watching Wild Black Bear

Getting up close and personal with a bear isn’t exactly on my bucket list, but I do love observing them when I’m safely out of reach. How about this for an adventure: What if I told you there’s a place in Minnesota where you can safely see black bears in their natural habitat?

Tucked away in northern Minnesota is a magical sanctuary where you can observe wild black bears interacting with one another.

How cool is this? From a raised platform, you’ll have a front-row seat to all the bear action as they stroll in and out like regulars at their favorite spot.

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It all began with Vince Shute, a logger who started feeding bears to keep them from raiding his cabins. Over time, he formed a unique bond with them, realizing that “the bears weren’t mean – only hungry.”

As bears flocked to the logging camp for their meals during foraging season, what started as a survival tactic turned into a heartfelt connection. Vince and the bears developed a special relationship that drew visitors from across Minnesota and beyond, all eager to witness this remarkable bond.

When Vince's health began to deteriorate, to ensure the bears’ future, he donated his land to The American Bear Association, a nonprofit established in January 1995. Today, this organization continues to run the sanctuary, preserving the legacy of Vince’s extraordinary relationship with the bears.

According to the Vince Shute Sanctuary website, The Sanctuary is his legacy to us and to future generations: a special place where humans can learn to coexist with bears.

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To this day, generations of bears keep coming back and from Memorial Day through Labor Day, you can enjoy seeing these magnificent creatures.

The sanctuary also hosts fun workshops - like paint a bear - and special programs, where volunteers, naturalists, and photographers share their wildest bear tales and tips.

Vince Shute's Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Orr, Minnesota. You can get tickets and learn more here. 

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