We visited the Grizzly Encounter today based on other reviews and recommendations from social media. We were not disappointed! First and foremost, this is a rescue sanctuary for grizzlies - NOT a roadside attraction. These bears have either been abandoned/orphaned or raised in captivity at other locations and have made it here for a chance at survival.
Today, we met Max, who seemed happy and extremely well taken care of! We enjoyed watching him play in the snow and rooted for him to get a huge chunk of ice out of one of the ponds in his enclosure. Fun fact we learned at the sanctuary today: bears have no reason to hibernate if they have a food source and are not pregnant, so any time of year is good to visit! You can get pretty close to the grizzly bears while still feeling completely safe, and there is an employee outside at all times to answer all your questions.
I truly feel like the people who work at the Grizzly Encounter love their jobs and love and care for the grizzly bears. I would highly recommend this experience for people of all ages!