Animal Adventures - "The Boss" Rundle Grizzly

The bear that started it all. Originally designed in early 2022

Ten Peaks Designs was inspired by the idea of crafting laser-cut wooden ornaments featuring actual locations and real mountains. One of my major annoyances while living in a tourist area is encountering gifts with generic mountain shapes labeled as "Banff." When I travel, I prefer finding authentic items from the area that remind me of what I experienced there. This motivated me to create something I would want to purchase myself.

It began with the bear shape, and I knew I wanted to depict Mt. Rundle as seen from the 1st/2nd Vermilion Lakes. Then, the concept of a story emerged, and this piece evolved into "The Boss" bear 122.

During my time working at the visitor centre in Banff, we were kept informed about trail closures and the activities of our local bear celebrity. In September, we discovered he had killed an elk near Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park. By October, he had killed a black bear near the trail to Sundance Canyon just outside the town of Banff. In early November, as most bears were seeking their dens for winter, a sudden freeze caused some of the local elk herd to attempt crossing the newly formed ice. Part of the herd fell in and died. Since this occurred close to town, Parks Canada used helicopters to remove the elk bodies from the river, but one was overlooked. The Boss found it and was observed consuming the elk over a week, eventually becoming so full that his stomach dragged on the ground. Having had three substantial meals in the last three months, he did not hibernate during the winter of 2013 to 2014. His footprints or sightings of him were noted throughout the winter as he explored the new season.

The Boss is a local legend for numerous reasons, including surviving encounters with a train on two occasions. He is also known for fathering the majority of the bears in the park. It is estimated that he is nearly 25 years old, which is considered grandpa age.

You can purchase your own "The Boss" Rundle Grizzly here: https://www.tenpeaksdesigns.com/product-page/rundle-grizzly-bear