Organizations Participating in the Development of the New Park

Property has been located on USDA Forest Service lands that appears to be an excellent location to re-locate the Moonridge Animal Park.  The land is located on the northern side of Big Bear Lake immediately adjacent of the Big Bear Discovery Center.  The process to make the relocation a reality involves the cooperative efforts of several government and private organizations working together in a collaborative framework. The major players that form the re-location task force are:
 

•     USDA - Forest Service, San Bernardino National Forest
•     San Bernardino National Forest Association
•     San Bernardino County Special Districts
•     Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District
•     Moonridge Animal Park
•     Friends of the Moonridge Zoo, Inc

To follow is an overview of each of these organizations.

USDA  - Forest Service, San Bernardino National Forest
In 1996 the San Bernardino National Forest Service staff was not interested in the Moonridge Animal Park moving on to Forest Service lands.  However, in 1999 the Forest Service’s mission statement was changed to encourage “community partnerships.”  This changed mission statement opened the door for discussions about moving the Moonridge Animal Park onto National Forest System lands.  In January 2001 a Memorandum of Understanding was initiated and entered between the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District, Friends of the Moonridge Zoo, the San Bernardino National Forest Association and the San Bernardino National Forest, Pacific Southwest Region, USDA Forest Service.  The purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding was to establish a framework of cooperation between these organizations to explore opportunities to relocate the Moonridge Animal Park.  Furthermore, the Memorandum of Understanding stipulates the conditions requiring the development of a written Living Forest Relocation Prospectus to be completed before any future action by the Forest Service. The prospectus is to include, yet not limited to the following items:
 
1. Demonstration of public need
2. Rational for use of a site near the Big Bear Discovery Center, as well as appropriate physical setting of the Living Forest using schematic or bubble diagrams and sample architectural/engineering drawings.
3. Firm evidence of secured funding to be used by the Big Bear Valley Recreation District and Friends of the Moonridge Zoo for the development of long-term successful operation of the new facility.
4. Proposed mitigation of potential concerns discovered during the environmental review.
5. Demonstration that the primary focus of the Living Forest will be on species native to ecosystems of the San Bernardino Mountains.
6. Basic plans for the design, construction, and management of a high-quality facility, consistent with public expectations in regards to natural habitat enclosures and state-of-the-art exhibit and interpretation of native species.
7. Demonstration that the operation of the Living Forest is complimentary and synergistic to the goals, objectives, and management of the Big Bear Discovery Center, if the site were to be chosen.

Big Bear Discovery Center - A joint venture between the National Forest Service and San Bernardino National Forest Association
The USDA Forest Service in collaboration with The San Bernardino National Forest Association (SBNFA)  designed, developed, and built the Big Bear Discovery Center to provide seasonal exhibits, information services, discovery tours, and field trip programs to visitors. It opened to the public May 1998.  During 2002, the Discovery Center had 170,000 visitors. The Big Bear Discovery Center has been a prototype for innovation in visitor information centers among all the National Forests.  The Discovery Center has proved to be a successful venture managed jointly by the USDA Forest Service and the San Bernardino National Forest Association.

In May 2000, the SBNFA received a HUD grant for $462,500 to build a permanent exhibit hall.  In September, the Forest Service received $1.3 million to complete the Discovery Center expansion project.  This expansion includes new office and storage space, a new outdoor amphitheater, an interpretive trail, an interactive learning room, and a food service area.  The construction for the new expansion started September 2003. 

San Bernardino National Forest Association
The San Bernardino National Forest Association (SBNFA) has also created programs (beyond its involvement with the Big Bear Discovery Center) that include the Children’s Forest, Off-Highway Vehicle Volunteers, and Fire Lookout Hosts.  The scope and reach of the San Bernardino National Forest Association is beyond that of Big Bear Valley, which encompasses the full San Bernardino National Forest region.

Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District
The Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District operates under the auspices of the San Bernardino Office of Special Districts.  The Moonridge Animal Park receives funding from the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District.  The Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District handles payroll and fringe benefit functions and oversees the general budget allocation for the Moonridge Animal Park.

Moonridge Animal Park
In 1959 forest fires devastated an ecosystem and a number of injured deer and bobcats were brought to the Park location for temporary holding and rehabilitation.  Several animals became non-releasable residents and so the Moonridge Animal Park  was born.  Local residents continued to bring wildlife to the park for care.  In 1961, the Park was formally adopted by the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District and was provided a 50-year lease from the Goldmine Ski Resort that owned the property.

The Moonridge Animal Park is designated as a rehabilitation facility, and offers its staff expertise in treating up to 300 wild animals each year.  A large number of the rehabilitated animals are released back into the wild each year.

The Moonridge Animal Park is now home to a collection of 180 animals representing 60 species that occupy alpine regions throughout the world.  Many of these animals are endangered or of special concern.  Most of the animals come to the Moonridge Animal Park from the California Department of Fish and Game, or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or from other wildlife preserves, which can no longer maintain them.  The non-releasable status of each of these animals graphically illustrates the adverse impact of man on wildlife populations.

Friends of the Moonridge Zoo, Inc.
During 1988 in response to the tragic theft and subsequent butchering of three Moonridge Animal Park bald eagles, a small citizen’s group formed to provide an alarm system for the Moonridge Animal Park.  This group evolved into a 501(c)(3) non-profit fund raising organization called Friends of the Moonridge Zoo (FOMZ) with a supporting membership of 1,432 members.

Through the efforts of  FOMZ, the Moonridge Animal Park has been helped with enhancing several animal enclosures.  Funds were raised to build the grizzly bear habitat, funding to build a beaver pond, and also funding to build a Walk-Through Flight Enclosure for Aquatic and Shore Birds.

Funds were raised to build the Education Center, and funds continue to be raised in supporting Moonridge Animal Park educational efforts. FOMZ volunteers, who have undergone docent training, offer a variety of school tours and educational programs at Moonridge Animal Park. Furthermore, cultural programs have been introduced as a result of FOMZ efforts.  These programs cover a wide variety of events: Music in the Zoo, Bear Country Fair, Ice Cream Safari, Zooccasion, Wildlife Art Show, the Flash Light Program, the Run for the Grizzlies, Snarls N Snooz in the zoo, Celebrating the Earth, Art Classes, and the Native American Arts Festival.