WILDLIFE SANCTUARY · CROWN POINT, INDIANA
Animals at Avanti The Bear Den
Three resident animals. One rescued bear. A wildlife sanctuary one hour from Chicago.
Three resident animals. One rescued bear. A wildlife sanctuary one hour from Chicago.
Avanti The Bear Den is a private wildlife sanctuary in Crown Point, Indiana, one hour southeast of Chicago. The animals here are not exhibits. They are not performers. They are rescued and resident animals with names, histories, and personalities that guests come to know over the course of a stay.
There are three resident animals on the property: Avanti, a rescued American black bear approximately 20 years old; Bonnie and Clyde, a pair of mute swans who have lived here for years; and Ethel, an elk who has called this land home for thirty years. Each animal has off-limits private spaces for rest. Each is cared for daily by professional handlers. The property is USDA licensed for exhibiting animals and partners with Purdue University as a learning facility.
This is not a collection of exhibits. It is a piece of land where animals live, and where, for one night, you live alongside them.
Avanti is an American black bear, Ursus americanus, the most common bear species in North America. American black bears are native to Indiana and the broader Midwest. Avanti was rescued before coming to live at the sanctuary in Crown Point and has been a resident of this property for years.
Avanti is approximately 20 years old. American black bears in managed sanctuary settings can live into their late twenties, significantly longer than their wild counterparts. At 20, Avanti is in the mature phase of his life.
Avanti is observed, not handled. Guests watch Avanti at scheduled feeding times under direct supervision of professional animal handlers. There is no touching, no guided encounter, and no direct contact. Visible fencing and enclosures are in place at all times. Photography is welcome during feeding observation.
Full Profile: Avanti the rescued black bearBonnie and Clyde are the property's resident mute swans. Clyde has been at Avanti The Bear Den for twelve years. Bonnie arrived more recently at just one year old. They are permanent year-round residents, present whether the bear is hibernating or not, and they are among the most reliably visible animals on the property.
Yes. Guests are welcome to feed Bonnie and Clyde the mute swans during their stay. Swan feeding typically takes place in the evening as the light fades on the property. It is one of the quieter moments of a stay at Avanti The Bear Den, and one that guests return to describe with more warmth than they expected.
Full Profile: Bonnie and Clyde resident mute swans
Ethel is a 30-year-old elk and one of the oldest animals on the property. Elk in managed sanctuary settings can live into their thirties. Ethel has called this land home for decades, long before most guests discovered that Avanti The Bear Den existed. She is a permanent year-round resident and a consistent presence on the property.
Ethel is observed, not handled. Guests share the land with Ethel during their stay. She moves through the property on her own terms. There is no scheduled encounter and no guided interaction. Coming across a 30-year-old elk on a morning walk through Indiana woodland does not require a program to make it worth remembering.
Full Profile: Ethel a 30-year-old elkBeyond the three resident animals, Avanti The Bear Den sits within Indiana woodland that supports its own wildlife. Guests may encounter wild coyotes, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys on the property during their stay.
These animals are not managed, not scheduled, and not guaranteed. They are simply here. Guests are made aware of their presence on the property and are asked not to approach or interact with them.
Animal welfare is the operational foundation of this property. Here is what that looks like in practice.
Yes. Avanti The Bear Den partners with Purdue University as a learning facility. Veterinary oversight and animal care support are provided through that relationship. Purdue University is one of the leading veterinary and agricultural research institutions in the United States.
Yes. Every animal at Avanti The Bear Den has access to private dens and enclosure areas that are off-limits to guests at all times. Animals are never required to be visible or accessible. Their rest and privacy are non-negotiable regardless of guest schedules.
Avanti the black bear is a rescued animal. The property also houses Bonnie and Clyde the mute swans and Ethel the elk as longtime residents. The sanctuary does not breed animals for exhibit. Guests are educated on animal welfare during their stay.
Not all three resident animals are present at all times of year. Here is a clear breakdown of when each animal is available so guests can plan their visit accordingly.
| Animal | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Avanti the Black Bear | Spring through Fall | Hibernates approximately December through February |
| Bonnie and Clyde the Swans | Year-round | Present all twelve months |
| Ethel the Elk | Year-round | Present all twelve months |
Guests booking spring through fall will experience all three resident animals, including Avanti at scheduled feeding times. Guests visiting in winter will find Bonnie and Clyde the swans and Ethel the elk on the property. Avanti enters a state of torpor, a light form of dormancy, in approximately December and emerges in approximately February.
Avanti The Bear Den is home to three resident animals: Avanti, a rescued American black bear approximately 20 years old; Bonnie and Clyde, resident mute swans; and Ethel, a 30-year-old elk. Wild coyotes, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys also live on the surrounding property in Crown Point, Indiana.
Yes. Avanti The Bear Den is home to Avanti, a rescued American black bear approximately 20 years old. Avanti lives on the property full time at the wildlife sanctuary in Crown Point, Indiana. Guests observe Avanti at scheduled feeding times under the supervision of professional animal handlers.
The bear at Avanti The Bear Den is an American black bear (Ursus americanus) named Avanti. Avanti is approximately 20 years old and was rescued before coming to live at the wildlife sanctuary in Crown Point, Indiana. American black bears are the most common bear species in North America.
It depends on the animal. Avanti the black bear and Ethel the elk are observed only. Guests do not touch or handle either animal. Bonnie and Clyde the mute swans may be fed by guests. All animal interactions at Avanti The Bear Den are supervised by professional handlers on site.
Avanti the black bear is a rescued animal. The property also houses Bonnie and Clyde, resident mute swans, and Ethel, a longtime resident elk. Avanti The Bear Den partners with Purdue University as a learning facility and works with veterinarians for ongoing animal care.
Avanti, the rescued black bear at Avanti The Bear Den, is approximately 20 years old. American black bears in managed sanctuary settings can live into their late twenties. Avanti lives at the wildlife sanctuary in Crown Point, Indiana and is observed by guests at scheduled feeding times.
Avanti The Bear Den is home to two resident mute swans named Bonnie and Clyde. Bonnie is a 1-year-old female swan. Clyde is a 12-year-old male swan. Both are permanent year-round residents of the property in Crown Point, Indiana. Guests are welcome to feed Bonnie and Clyde during their stay.
Yes. Avanti The Bear Den is home to Ethel, a 30-year-old elk who has lived on the property for decades. Ethel is observed by guests during their stay at the wildlife sanctuary in Crown Point, Indiana.
No. Avanti The Bear Den is a private wildlife sanctuary cabin experience, not a zoo. Guests stay overnight in a single private cabin on the property in Crown Point, Indiana. The animals are rescued and resident, not exhibits. The property is USDA licensed for exhibiting animals and partners with Purdue University as a learning facility.
Bonnie and Clyde the mute swans and Ethel the elk are present at Avanti The Bear Den year round. Avanti the black bear hibernates approximately December through February. Guests are encouraged to book spring through fall to experience all resident animals including bear feeding observation.
Avanti The Bear Den has three resident animals: Avanti the black bear, Bonnie and Clyde the mute swans, and Ethel the elk. Wild coyotes, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys also live on the surrounding property but are not managed by the sanctuary.
Ethel the elk is the oldest resident animal at Avanti The Bear Den at approximately 30 years old. Clyde the mute swan is 12 years old. Avanti the black bear is approximately 20 years old. All three animals are permanent residents of the wildlife sanctuary in Crown Point, Indiana.
One private cabin. Three resident animals. One hour from Chicago. Book directly through the property website.