Trainer's Blog

Meet Bruno! He's unBEARably cute!

2012-03-06T13:21:00.000-08:00

Bruno; born January 16, 2012 Weight: 6.9 lbs

Thumb sucker???

Enjoys falling asleep in the
laps of his caretakers

Brown bear claws can measure up to about 2" - 4"

Meet the newest member of the Triple D family!! His name is "Bruno", which is the international word for brown. It suits him perfectly! Bruno took a long road trip across the country with Jay and is finally at his forever home here in Kalispell, MT. He is settling in nicely. He is enjoying all of the attention he is getting from all of the staff, too!

Stretching out his toes while he sleeps

Heather & Bruno

Bruno, as of today, weighs 6.9 lbs and is just beginning to get his baby teeth in. Although, his claws as you can see are ALREADY quite large! Speaking of size, his father is quite large (about 800 lbs), so we can only imagine just how big little Bruno will become!

The Triple D has big plans and high hopes for his professional career, and with a name like Bruno, he is surely destined for stardom!

Our summer and fall filming slots are filling up fast, so don't forget to make your reservations and secure your spot to see little Bruno in person.....he won't stay small for very long!!!

Stay tuned for more news, pictures, and updates on Bruno & all of our amazing animals!

Footprints On My Heart

2012-02-27T07:35:00.003-08:00

13 month-old Casey bear's paw tracks

For all of you parents out there (two-legged or four-legged), you know how bittersweet it is when your little ones start growing up. Well, it is no different for me. I love to see my babies grow and develop, but there is always that part of me that wants them little and sweet forever. My goal is to keep them always sweet , but it is certainly out of my hands when it comes to their growth! As I posted last month, my "little" Casey bear had his first birthday and we made sure we celebrated with him! However, that one-year-old bear is now officially 175 lbs!! He has all of his big teeth in and when he stands on two feet, his head reaches my shoulders! My little bear isn't so little anymore....and he's only going to keep on growing for the next two years. Just the other day, Casey was enjoying some fresh snow, (meaning he was running around like a wrecking ball and doing somersaults) and he just so happened to leave a front paw print and a back paw print right next to each other. So like the proud mom I am, I snapped a couple pictures of his tracks. I left my foot print & hand print next to them to give you an example of how big he's getting. (Keep in mind, I am 5'4" and wear a size 8 shoe, but for the snow, they are bulky snow boots.) Those tracks are going to be quite larger next winter.

Next up are my almost 8 month-old mountain lion cubs, Kali and Khia. They lost their spots months ago and look like mini adult mountain lions! (They have not been weighed recently, but I will do that soon.) Khia, the runt of their litter, is significantly smaller than her sister, but still growing like a weed. Kali, however, is quite the young lady! When standing on her back feet, she is now stretching up to my chest! Kali is definitely developing quicker than Khia, and has already lost her four canines. I am so happy that I was able to recover two of them for my baby book! (Picture below....and joking about the baby book, of course.) While they are teething I encourage them to chew on more productive things than me, like dog raw hides. Her big teeth are coming in rapidly and look gorgeous! Khia is right behind her though, as her big teeth are just starting to break through the gum line.

Kali's bottom canines

Well, the babies will continue to grow and develop into the regal and majestic animals that we all respect and appreciate. I look forward to their adult lives and to be a big part of that is truly an honor and a blessing. I never forget that I am one lucky girl who these animals allow to be around them every day. For those who do not know, this is the only career I have ever wanted and I would not trade it for the world. My job is truly a labor of love and it is unbelievably easy to wake up everyday and first thing I get to do is kiss a bear on the nose.

Work Work Work!

2012-02-06T16:40:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy, go go go 2012 already, but that doesn't mean it's all work and no play....or...well, sleep for those really grueling days....

After a long day of filming, I often cap off my evening with some much needed quiet time with just me and the animals. This peaceful time is an important element in the trainer/animal relationship as it builds trust, understanding, and unity. One of the most frequently asked questions is "How? How do you train these wild animals?!" Typically, my response is simple, "A lot of patience!" That is certainly true, but it takes a WHOLE LOT more than that. To successfully train wild animals such as these, I must use an elaborate recipe of time, patience, love, and positive reinforcement, also know as Operant Conditioning. In the end, the result is mutual respect and admiration. I love coming to work, and my long and laboring hours spent here are rewarded twofold by the relationships that I have built and maintain with my four-legged, furry babies. I wouldn't trade them for any money or vacations in the world.

Heather, Kali (bottom), & Khia (top) taking a "catnap"
after a hard day's work filming

2012-01-30T16:49:00.000-08:00

A big thank you to Jeff Wendorff and sharing his amazing talent with the Triple "D" staff! It is always so much fun to see the results of the workshops and photo/filming sessions that take place here, and Jeff generously provided some of his pictures just for our blog! Thanks, Jeff!

In addition to capturing the majesty of our animals, he also amazingly illustrates the beautiful habitats in which they are filmed. Our staff continuously works diligently on maintaining our filming sites to ensure their purity, allure, and of course their safety for our guests and our animals.

Enjoy!

Andy, a 10 year old Mountain Lion

Kali, a 7 month old Mountain Lion

Khia (Kali's littermate), a 7 month old Mountain Lion

Dudette, a 9 year old Cross Fox

Ferrah, a 10 month old Fisher

Lil' Joey, a 2 year old Red Fox

Honey, a 4 year old Arctic Fox

Simba, a 9 month old Canada Lynx

Julia, a 9 month old Arctic Wolf

Horse Roundup

Great Horned Owl

Farewell, Nick!

2012-01-30T16:22:00.000-08:00

Nick giving Casey Bear some birthday love

Triple "D" will be saying goodbye to one of the trainers, Nick, tomorrow. He is leaving for personal reasons unrelated to Triple "D" and we are so saddened by his departure and he will be TRULY missed by the staff, clients, and the animals. We wish him the best in his future & hope to see him again real soon!

Casey's reaction to Nick leaving...

Happy Birthday, Casey Bear!!!!!

2012-01-25T17:10:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CASEY BEAR!!!! Casey got to celebrate his first birthday (Jan 17) with his family at DDD! And of course, his mom has him on a strict diet, so we kept his treats mostly along the healthy line; carrot cake, cheesecake, apple pie, & strawberry muffins. (He did manage to get some cotton candy flavored cupcakes however, with frosting on top spelling out "Casey Bear.") He had a blast as the DDD crew & guests watched him celebrate! A special thank you to Jeff Wendorff for being our photographer & providing these amazing photos of our special black bear, Casey....

The Birthday setup...
complete with Pooh Bear 1st birthday party hats & plates!

We love you Casey Bear!!!!!

Casey Bear's 1st birthday!

Casey & his mama, Heather

Casey & his DDD family (Heather, Nick, & Jesse)

Nick & Casey

The birthday boy

SNOW!!!!

2012-01-16T16:23:00.000-08:00

LET IT SNOW!!! This crazy winter finally gave way to some snow this past week! We want to thank the last two groups that made it out!! Thanks to our guests who attending our Winter Special & our "Animals in Winter" weekend! And also a big thank you to another successful workshop with Jeff Wendorff! We had a packed 8 days of filming, but the animals did great & consistently make us proud! Thanks to the snow, our arctic foxes (Honey & Jeff) had their winter and 2012 debut this morning, and those eyes on Honey are to die for!

Heather trying on Montana's
version of a Snuggie

Nick & Otis right before
the snow really fell

Filming or not, however, we're always at work...In fact, we even put our talent to work! Not sure how good of a job it is, but they try...so 'A' for effort!!!

Back in September, Canon Master of Light, Bruce Dorn, shot a promotional video with our trainer, Heather and our mountain lion cubs, Kali & Khia. Check it out!!!!

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/galleries/galleries/tutorials/environmental_portraits_with_speedlites.shtml

2012-01-02T16:43:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! I hope everyone had a SAFE and happy new year celebration! Although its January, it feels more like spring here in Kalispell...Unfortunately, there is only just a bit of snow on the ground, but the weather is calling for snow tonight, so fingers crossed!!!

Filming for 2012 begins this Saturday! YAY!!! We will be hosting our Winter Special & look forward to welcoming our guests, new & returning, and introducing them to our amazing animals!

Also, if you tried to click on the links from last week, here are a couple of better links for GMA & Fox Morning News. Thanks, Carolyn Wright!!

Good Morning America: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/nat-geo-wild-kicks-off-big-cat-week-15103664

Fox Morning News: http://video.foxnews.com/v/1314809851001/big-cats-on-americas-newsroom/?playlist_id=86909

2011-12-26T14:43:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! (and happy belated Thanksgiving....) Its been WAY too long since we've updated our blog & we are TRULY sorry! We hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season & continues to do so through the new year! Remember, if you like our blog, become a member! Thanks!

As you all know (or may not), Triple D can sometimes be compared to New York City in that its a business that never sleeps. Just a couple of weeks ago that similarity was brought to life as our mountain lion cubs, Kali & Khia, were invited to help promote Big Cat Week for NatGeo Wild in the Big Apple.

Kali (left) & Khia (right) get their
first glimpse at life in the Big Apple

(Left to Right) Bill Hemmer, Casey Anderson, Kali & Khia, Heather Keepers on Fox Morning News promoting 'Stalking the Mountain Lion' for Big Cat Week on NatGeo Wild

December 7th, Kali & Khia made their national television debut on Good Morning America and Fox Morning News. Sharing the spotlight with Casey Anderson, the girls did not disappoint! Decked out in crystal collars, pink leashes, and of course their best behavior, its no wonder that Fox wanted more of them. As our trainer, Heather (who escorted our superstars to NYC) was waiting to board her plane back to Montana, a last minute call came in asking her to get the cats off the plane and stay through the weekend to have the girls be on Fox & Friends on Monday morning, December12. After weeks of intense planning a five day trip quickly turned into an eleven day trip, but in the end, it was well worth it.

Kali (right) & Khia (left) relaxing the tub at The Muse Hotel in NYC

Click on the following links to see the girls' debut on LIVE national television! We are so proud!

Teaser for GMA: http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=695561322556

GMA segment: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/t/video/nat-geo-wild-kicks-off-big-cat-week-15103664

Fox Morning News: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.foxnews.com%2Fv%2F1314809851001%2Fbig-cats-on-americas-newsroom%2F%3Fplaylist_id%3D86909&h=9AQFLRiSNAQEQpw7ZRe-4DKqKMQmj9OXbY-W54g18lDM4ng

Fox & Friends: http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-friends/index.html#/v/1322695271001/big-cat-week/?playlist_id=86912

Even Casey Anderson was like the Paparazzi taking Kali's
picture as she analyzed Times Square

2011-11-14T11:03:00.001-08:00

Heather & Casey bear waiting on set with Grizzly Creek Films

Heather & Kali (napping) while Casey Anderson (on right in background) filmed with Khia for a new XBOX Kinect video game

Let it snow! (or don't...) Winter is upon us at the Triple D with little spurts of snow showers. The chill is definitely in the air, but that's not stopping anyone from training, filming, and working! Nick & Heather spent last Sunday-Friday with Casey Anderson & Grizzly Creek Films in Bozeman. Many hours were put in perfecting behaviors & shots of Casey (the bear) and Kali & Khia, our 2 mtn lion cubs. They are going to be a part of Casey Anderson's new NatGeo Wild series, as well as his very own interactive video game for kids on XBOX Kinect. (The game is scheduled to be released in March of 2012.) Nick & Heather were also lucky enough to be a part of a private premier viewing of Casey's newest show "Stalking the Mountain Lion" scheduled to be aired on December 11, 2011 on NatGeo Wild. This show features Triple D mountain lion star, Atilli, so set your DVR for the exciting event!!

Kali on a ridge, posing for many segments
of Casey Anderson's projects

Heather with Khia (on her back) & Kali (front) in between takes on a ridge in Bozeman, MT.

2011-11-02T15:43:00.000-07:00

Jesse showing off his chainsaw skills as he helps get yet another water compound ready for filming

Nick gets instructions from Jesse in order to put a fence around our newest water filming site.

Sorry for the delayed post! The work never stops here at the Triple D! The staff has been working diligently on getting various filming sites up and running for the winter. We now have a new water filming site ready for action! Its gorgeous & we are excited to begin filming there!

Nick & Heather are getting ready for a five day road trip to Bozeman to continue filming with NatGeo Wild! star, Casey Anderson. Mr. Anderson has just announced his partnership with XBOX Kinect & a new interactive video game to be released next year. We are SO excited to be a part of this! The game will feature animated footage of our mountain lion cubs, Kali & Khia, as well as (of course), little Casey bear!

Casey bear posing on a log, getting ready for our five day road trip to Bozeman.

Casey working on his mark as Nick loads up the feed stick with his favorite treat...CHEESE!

Enrichment!

2011-10-24T15:53:00.000-07:00

Here are some fun photos of the enrichment we provide the hard working stars of Triple D.

Simba, Canadian Lynx, lounging in a box of straw

Toby, Siberian Lynx, laying under his Christmas Tree

Dot, Snow Leopard, chewing on a scented box

Casey, Black Bear, eating peas out of a candy box

Dora, Siberian Lynx, relaxing with her logs and pine bows

Ferrah, Fisher, climbing in her jungle gym

Winter Ready

2011-10-24T15:32:00.000-07:00

Triple D Staff along with some volunteers have been out on site cleaning and pruning the compounds for the winter snowfall. This nice cliff side went from bushy and overgrown to clean and snow-ready. Heather and Nick have stocked up on all the winter apparel they could find and are starting to test it all out.

Although the trainers are gearing up for winter Kali and Khia, along with the rest of the Triple D animals, are enjoying the remaining perks of Fall. Playing in the fallen leaves and a little game of hide and seek are some of their favorites.

Khia hiding, can you see her?

Kali posing on lead

2011-10-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

Heather & Cpt Jack

The trainers at Triple D continue to make progress with getting all of the animals acclimated and accustomed. Captain Jack & Heather (left) were able to get one last warm day in last week. Now, its all hoodies & warm boots from now until Spring!

Heather, Andy, & Nick

Andy is getting really comfortable with his new trainers, as Heather & Nick proceed with regular walks and socializations. He spends his walks purring & rubbing on anything that will feel good scratching his neck. He is easily motivated for treats & affection.

The mountain lion cubs are tipping the scales now at over 20 pounds!!! Their walks are filled with exploring challenges, but they gain more and more confidence every day! They enjoy each other's company and rumble & tumble with each other at every chance they get.

Kali (left) & Khia (right)

Khia watching Jesse on the tractor as he works hard on new habitats

2011-10-10T14:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Paul Burwell for another great week of filming here at Triple D!! We had a great three days with a wonderful group!

Now, back to the grind! There has been lots of talk here as we get ready for our big event in April. Slots are filling up fast for Monument Valley so don't forget to get your names on the list! Nick & Heather are already getting animals ready for the month long trip to Utah, and are getting excited for their first April trip.

This week will be spent mostly on training the mountain lion kittens to walk on lead, acclimating Dot, a 5 year old male snow leopard to walking with his new trainers on lead, and making advancements in our coyote pup's and wolf puppies' training. Wish us luck!!!

2011-10-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday!!! First, we want to thank Becky & Glen Grambo & their entire group for a GREAT four days of filming! We got a lot accomplished and the animals were a blast! The trainers definitely got their work outs in while working the animals. We'd also like to share an incredible artist's website, http://www.bigcatart.com/. Christina Langman spends hundreds of hours with colored pencils bringing her art to life. We look forward to seeing the results of this film shoot!

2011-09-28T14:30:00.000-07:00

Julia (top), Cila (bottom)

Triple D is excited for the return of Becky & Glen Grambo this week!! They have a special relationship with our Artic wolf pups, Julia & Cila, as they helped in the acquistion process and served as a foster home for a few nights until we could transport them safely home. The pups have grown SO much in the last few months. They will definitely be happy to see their foster parents again in just a couple of short days!

On another note, we would like to apologize for the delayed blog update. We have been extremely occupied with filming and animals and it slipped away from us for a couple of days. SORRY!

Don't forget to sign up for the Monument Valley trip in April!! Spots are filling up fast!

Mountain Lion Update

2011-09-19T10:33:00.000-07:00

Kali weighed in at 12.6 lbs

The two mountain lion cubs, Kali and Khia, are pushing double digits at 2 1/2 months old. Kali is the big girl over 12 and Khia is at 10.3 pounds.

Both girls are getting more comfortable on lead. They frolic in the grass and run up and down the roads. Although when new scary things like the horses or deer startle them, they come back to the trainers for security.

For all those on the mailing lists, be ready for the flyer on Monument Valley. This years off site photo event. Lots of details in the packet.

2011-09-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

Heather & Andy

Nick & Andy

Nick & Heather continue to make headway with Andy, a 10 year-old mountain lion. He gets walked nearly everyday & enjoys his time in the tall grass. This week Nick & Heather will test their progress with Andy. He will come off lead for the first time with his new trainers in hopes of putting him back in the starting lineup for Triple D! Fingers crossed!!

Fisher Enrichment

2011-09-19T09:51:00.000-07:00

Ferrah, the fisher, got some fun enrichment! Given a Kokanee box (empty of course), she flipped it on top of herself & had to figure out her escape....Looks like she had a lot of fun doing so!!!

Casey the Magnificent

2011-09-12T19:48:00.000-07:00

Casey and Heather did fantastic in Bozeman with NatGeo Wild! star Casey Anderson. These pictures were from a quick training session before heading off for the long drive. Casey's future TV debut and the trainers stellar work, with any luck, will land us some more high profile shoots.

As for the rest of the game farm, things are going great. With winter on the horizon all the animals are gearing up with thick coats and husky builds. Come see some of there new looks during our September Special starting in just 11 days, the 23rd - 27th.

Down to One

2011-09-05T16:37:00.000-07:00

Dane, Bobcat

Dora, Siberian Lynx

This past week the Game Farm has been run by Nick, the newest trainer. Heather took a much deserved vacation for a few days. While she was out Nick was getting acclimated to animals all across the board. Working with the Lynxes and Bobcats just to name a couple.

Nick's relationship with Casey, the black bear, has taken off as you can see. All the animals and staff look forward to Heathers return. Although, as discussed in the last post, her and Casey bear are heading to Bozeman one day after she gets back to work with Casey Anderson and National Geographic.

Kali and Khia, the nearly three month old cougar kittens, have started walking on lead. Exploring the compounds and meeting Hank is always fun for them.

Also with the beginning of the new month comes another Triple "D" monthly special. The September Special starts on the 23rd of this month so make sure to send us an email if you have any questions or are interested in attending.

Busy At Triple "D"!!

2011-08-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

Heather & Jesse walking Andy, a 10 year-old mountain lion.

Ferrah, a 5 month old Fisher pup.

She is extremely playful & full of energy.

The Triple "D" staff has been (as always) hard at work!!! Nick & Heather continue to make progress with the already established animals, all while training the new youngsters and getting them ready for their future stardom!

Lil' Casey bear is getting ready for his final shoot with Casey Anderson in Bozeman, scheduled for September 7-9. The almost year-long filming of the two Casey's will be the focus in the future NatGeo Wild! special....release date coming soon!

Casey Anderson & Casey bear in Bozeman back in July.

Nick & Casey -training

2011-08-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

Cila (with an apple)

Julia winking at a fly on her nose

Cila & Julia continue to grow like weeds!! As you can see, they are working extremely hard on their "natural" poses for the upcoming August special. Both pups are full of energy and very eager to work on their training!

Julia (left) & Cila (right)

2011-08-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

Heather & Prince

Heather has been working daily on getting Prince, a year old snow leopard, accustomed to life in the spotlight. His progress continues with each walk!

Casey & Nick

2011-08-22T12:51:00.000-07:00

Casey bear giving Nick the "OK"

We are working hard to get acclimated to all of the animals here at Triple D. Some will be harder than others, but it looks like Nick is getting Casey bear's blessing!

Mtn Lion Cubs Are Here!!!

2011-08-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

Khia - Born July 5, 2011

Kali - July 5, 2011

Kali & Khia came to the Triple D on July 28, 2011. They weighed 2.5 lbs upon arrival, and have almost tripled in size in just 2.5 weeks!

Although these girls are littermates, they are polar opposites in personality. Kali, who is just slightly larger than her sister, is very mellow and independent, while Khia is our insecure firecracker. They both love affection and sleep awkwardly & comfortably in our laps after a nice warm bottle of milk.