West Coast Creature Feature-The Beautiful Banana Slug

On May 24, I spent about 20 minutes watching urban elementary school students interact with this banana slug. It was amazing, because half an hour before meeting the slug, the students were afraid to leave the path for fear of getting "dirty"
by smallgirl

Yes, banana slugs are beautiful!! These fabulous friends of the forest can be found in West Coast rainforests, and are the largest slug species native to the area. A banana slug is a "decomposer," meaning that it helps break down organic materials on the forest floor. These amazing creatures have no legs, so rely on slime to propel themselves across the forest floor. They actually move quite fast and are very friendly! I love picking up banana slugs and introducing them to children, who are fascinated by their tentacles (used to sense light) and sliminess.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Weekly Bear #10- "Remembear" that a baby bear is a baby bear!

It's Spring and on the West Coast that means that baby black bears and grizzly bears are emerging with their parents. They are soooo fluffy, and soooo cute, and soooo totally still BEARS!

Grizzly bear cub by smallgirl
Black bear cub by smallgirl

Cute as they are, bears are wild animals and should not be fed, pet, touched, or interacted with in any way by people. Each year, many black bears are destroyed here on the West Coast because of negative interactions with humans. We can all live together safely if we follow a few basic precautions like: if you live in bear country, store your trash and pet food properly, clean up and pick fruit from fruit trees quickly, leash your pets when hiking, and travel in areas known to have bears in groups and with caution.

Check out this amazing video for more information about why bears are deserving of our respect:
http://vimeo.com/65780506

Long Time No Teddy Forest!

Happy Spring from Teddy Forest

Hello from Teddy Forest! Although there has been a lot of beauty, fun, and bears going on lately, there has also been some fear, sadness, and general turmoil, which has prevented me and the bears from sharing lately and has stalled the Weekly Bear ATC project. Hopefully things will get back on track soon! In the meantime, I leave you with some shots of spring so far.

Ensatina by smallgirl

Mallard and ducklings by smallgirl

West Coast Black Bear by smallgirl

Keep it joyful, and see you soon :)

More Weekly Bears!!

So, I am really behind in the Weekly Bears. They are not so weekly anymore, more like "weeklyish." All the bears in Teddy Forest are disappointed in me, as they were all clamouring to have their portraits drawn. However, to make up for it, here are four bears for a swap on www.atcsforall.com.
The theme is Whimsical Critters at the Beach.

Whimsical Bears at the Beach by smallgirl

Have a beary nice day!

West Coast Creature Feature- The Easter Bunny, or Not so Silly Rabbits!

"Psst...Teddy Forest is the funnest place ever!"

April Fools! And Happy Belated Easter! This West Creature Feature is brought to you by Pikachu and Perriwinkle, the (mostly) friendly rabbits in Teddy Forest. These little fellas were adopted from the local animal shelter, after being dumped in the wet West Coast streets. Now, the frolick around Teddy Forest and have as much food and love as they could possibly want.

Pickachu!!!

Pickachu says: "Did you know that most wild rabbits in North America are escapees or dumped pets gone wild?" 

Perriwinkle!!!

Perriwinkle says: "The most common local native rabbit is actually not a rabbit, but a snowshoe hare."

We hope you enjoyed this special West Coast Creature Feature!

Weekly Bear #8- Green Thumb Teddy Bear

Green Thumb Teddy Bear by smallgirl

Don't you just love this little bear ATC? He's probably my favourite weekly bear (so much so that this is actually version #2, I've kept version #1 for my collection). To trade, look for smallgirl at www.atcsforall.com

It's so gorgeous right now...sunny for the past few days with temperatures in the mid-teens, all kinds of flowers blooming, and robins everywhere!

Wee folk, St. Patrick's Day, and Weekly Bear #7

Minty and a Wade leprachaun by smallgirl

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Teddy Forest! Minty, one of the Teddy Forest wee bears, went on a little St. Patrick's Day stroll in the garden today. She was lovingly made by the Timeless Doll Gallery, local West Coast makers of fine porcelain miniature dolls and bears. Sadly, they are no longer in business.

Weekly Bear #7-St. Patty's Bear

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Weekly Bear #6-Dreaming of Spring

Weekly Bear #6-Dreaming of Spring

This polar bear wonders what spring is like in other lands. Done in watercolour pencil and gel pen with collage.

crocus by smallgirl

It's been gorgeous here on the West Coast (amid rain and wind storms) and the spring flowers are starting to bloom.

first daffodil by smallgirl

snowdrops by smallgirl

Wishing you sunshine and flowers!!

West Coast Creature Feature-The Elegant Northern Pintail

Northern pintail by smallgirl

I've had the fantastic privledge of being able to observe a pair of these beautiful ducks at a pond within walking distance of my home. Alhough it is in an urban area, the entire coast is part of the Pacific Flyway, which migratory birds use to travel up and down the continent.

The Northern Pintail is a very worldly bird- although it often winters on the West Coast, its range extends across North America, northern Europe and Asian, and it nests in Central America and north central Africa.

Weekly Bear #5- Postal Panda

Since this month celebrates the Lunar New Year festival, I thought I would continue with another panda.

Postal Panda by smallgirl

I made this panda ATC by recycling the insides of security envelopes, as well as a red envelope that contained a Year of the Snake mini-calendar. To trade with me, got to www.atcsforall.com and look for smallgirl.

I've also linked Postal Panda on Collage Obsession, where this week's theme is "Asian inspired" and Fun With ATCs, where the bi-weekly theme is "Something Red"

Happy Saturday!