Sanctuary Worker Brushes Bears to Collect Hair for Christmas Toys

A carer at a bear sanctuary in Otisville, New York, filmed herself brushing two of the center’s residents to collect their hair, in what constitutes the first step of creating stuffed bears for Christmas.

Video recorded by Susan Kowalczik of the Orphaned Wildlife Center, and shared to YouTube on September 7, shows her stroking a brown bear and collecting the hair from the brush which she then places in a plastic bag.

The center uploaded the footage to YouTube with the caption: “The first step in making the Christmas Teddy Bears! Gathering the fur! Yes, Susan brushes the bear, collects the hair and then it is cleaned and spun into yarn… that yarn is then used to make the teddy bears we auction off each year!”

In the video, the bear can be seen enjoying the light strokes, while on several occasions throughout the session, the bear grabs Kowalczik’s leg and licks her hand.

A second bear then appears and gives the camera a good sniff and a few licks, with Kowalczik attempting to distract it away from the recording device by brushing its fur.

Founded by Jim Kowalczik, Susan Kowalczik, and Kerry Clair in 2015, the Orphaned Wildlife Center, in Otisville, New York, nurtures its animal residents, in the hope they can be returned to the wild.

The center often shares videos and updates about the animals in its care to its YouTube channel and Facebook page. Credit: Susan Kowalczik via Storyful

Video transcript

[NO SPEECH]

[BEAR SNIFFING]

- Come on. [INAUDIBLE] get brushed. Come on. Look at the camera.

[BEAR PANTING]

Come on.

Come here. Come on.