Approximately 20 years old. American black bear. Rescued. The namesake of this property and the reason most guests make the drive from Chicago.
Avanti is a rescued American black bear living at Avanti The Bear Den wildlife sanctuary in Crown Point, Indiana. Avanti is approximately 20 years old. He is the namesake of this property, not a mascot, not an attraction, but a bear who was rescued, who needed a home, and who found one here in the woodlands of NW Indiana.
Avanti does not perform. He does not seek out guests. He is observed at scheduled feeding times by visitors who stay overnight in the property's private cabin. That observation, unhurried and unscripted, is what most guests say they will never forget.
The property is USDA licensed for exhibiting animals and partners with Purdue University as a learning facility. Professional animal handlers are on site at all times including overnight. One hour southeast of Chicago.
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. Despite their name, black bears can vary in color from black to brown to cinnamon. Avanti is a black-coated specimen and the animal that gave this property its name and identity.
Avanti is approximately 20 years old. American black bears in managed sanctuary settings can live into their late twenties, significantly longer than wild bears whose average lifespan is closer to 18 years. At 20, Avanti is in the mature phase of his life. Unhurried. Settled. Entirely himself.
Avanti is a full-grown adult American black bear. Adult male black bears typically weigh between 200 and 600 pounds and stand approximately 3 feet at the shoulder, reaching 5 to 6 feet when upright. Avanti's exact current weight is not published. Guests observe him at scheduled feeding times from a safe distance behind visible fencing and enclosures.
Strong. Silent. Those are the words used to describe Avanti, and they are accurate. Avanti is not a performing bear. He does not respond to guests, seek out attention, or alter his behavior for visitors. What guests witness at feeding time is Avanti exactly as he is. That turns out to be more compelling than anything scripted could be.
The experience with Avanti is deliberately simple. There is no guided tour. No bear show. No opportunity to touch, handle, or pose with the bear. What there is: a scheduled feeding time, a professional handler, and a bear living exactly as he lives.
Guests observe Avanti at scheduled feeding times during their overnight stay at Avanti The Bear Den. The observation is calm and unhurried. A moment built around watching a 20-year-old rescued black bear eat, move, and exist in his sanctuary home. Professional animal handlers are present throughout. Photography is welcome.
Guests observe Avanti from a safe distance separated by visible fencing and enclosures. There is no touching, no handling, and no direct contact at any point. This boundary is not a limitation. It is the condition that makes the observation genuine. Avanti is not performing for guests. He is simply being a bear.
Avanti at scheduled feeding time. Professional handlers present. Observation only. Photography welcome.
Yes. There are no age restrictions at Avanti The Bear Den. Children are welcome to observe Avanti at scheduled feeding times alongside adults. All observation is conducted at a safe distance with visible fencing and professional handlers present. Many families report that watching Avanti is the moment their children go completely quiet and completely present.
Yes. Photography and video are welcome during Avanti's feeding observation times. Guests are not positioned for photos with the bear. There is no staged photo moment. What guests photograph is Avanti as he is: a rescued black bear, approximately 20 years old, in his sanctuary home in Crown Point, Indiana.
Avanti is a rescued black bear. The details of his rescue are known to the property's operators. What matters for guests to understand is that Avanti came to this land because he needed somewhere to be, and this property gave him that.
He is not a rehabilitated bear returned to the wild. He is not a captive exhibit bred for display. Avanti is a rescued animal living in a managed sanctuary setting, cared for daily by professional handlers, monitored through a partnership with Purdue University, and given private den and enclosure space that is off-limits to guests at all times.
The property does not breed animals for exhibit. Guests are educated on Avanti's welfare and the standards of his care during their stay. That education is not a disclaimer. It is part of the experience.
Avanti was rescued before coming to live at Avanti The Bear Den in Crown Point, Indiana. The sanctuary does not publish the specific details of his rescue story. What is known: he is approximately 20 years old, he is an American black bear, he was rescued rather than captive-born, and he has been a resident of this property for years.
Yes. Avanti lives full time at Avanti The Bear Den wildlife sanctuary in Crown Point, Indiana. He is a permanent resident of the property, not a seasonal or rotating animal. Avanti hibernates approximately December through February and is active and visible spring through fall.
American black bears do not hibernate in the traditional sense. They enter a state called torpor, a lighter form of dormancy during which body temperature drops and metabolism slows significantly. For guests planning a visit to see Avanti, this means one thing practically: book spring through fall.
Avanti enters torpor approximately in December and emerges approximately in February. The exact dates vary year to year depending on temperature and environmental conditions. Black bears in Indiana respond to seasonal cues rather than a fixed calendar. Guests should book March through November to reliably observe Avanti at feeding times.
Avanti is active and visible approximately March through November. Spring and fall are particularly strong times to visit. Summer visits are reliably available. Winter visits from December through February should be planned with the understanding that Avanti will be in torpor and may not be active or visible.
Spring and fall offer the strongest conditions for observing Avanti. Spring visits catch Avanti emerging from torpor, when activity levels are high. Fall visits carry a natural urgency: the pre-hibernation weeks when Avanti is feeding heavily in a behavior called hyperphagia, preparing for winter. Summer is reliably available and popular for families. All three seasons deliver the full Avanti The Bear Den experience.
Black bears in Indiana do not hibernate in the traditional sense. They enter torpor, a lighter form of winter dormancy that differs from true hibernation in important ways. Bears in torpor can be roused. Their body temperature drops less dramatically than true hibernators. Avanti enters this state approximately December through February, consistent with black bear patterns across Indiana and the Midwest.
Avanti is typically in torpor for approximately two to three months, from around December through February. The exact duration varies year to year based on temperature, daylight hours, and environmental cues. Avanti is active and reliably visible from approximately March through November.
A rescued black bear on a property where guests stay overnight requires a specific kind of operational rigor. Avanti The Bear Den has that rigor, and it is documented, licensed, and verified.
Yes. Avanti The Bear Den is USDA licensed for exhibiting animals, fully insured for animal experiences, and staffed by professional animal handlers present on site at all times including overnight. Visible fencing and enclosures separate guests from Avanti at all times. Emergency procedures are in place. No guest incidents have ever occurred at this property in its history.
Guests observe Avanti from behind visible fencing and enclosures at all times. There is no moment during a stay at Avanti The Bear Den when a guest is in proximity to Avanti without physical barriers and professional handlers present. Property signage guides guests on safe behavior. The main home and gate areas are restricted zones guests do not enter.
Avanti is cared for and handled exclusively by professional animal handlers employed by the property. Handlers are present during all feeding observations and overnight. Animal care is supported through a partnership with Purdue University as a learning facility. Guests do not handle, feed, or make direct contact with Avanti at any point.
about Avanti The Bear Den
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, significantly longer than wild bears. Avanti is one of the longest-tenured residents at the wildlife sanctuary in Crown Point, Indiana.
The bear at Avanti The Bear Den is an American black bear (Ursus americanus) named Avanti. American black bears are the most common bear species in North America and are native to Indiana and the broader Midwest. Avanti is approximately 20 years old and was rescued before coming to live at the wildlife sanctuary in Crown Point, Indiana.
Guests observe Avanti at scheduled feeding times from a safe distance. They do not touch or handle the bear at any point. Professional animal handlers are present throughout. Visible fencing and enclosures separate guests from Avanti at all times. This is a supervised observation experience. The property is USDA licensed for exhibiting animals.
Yes. Avanti is a rescued American black bear. The property does not breed animals for exhibit. Avanti The Bear Den partners with Purdue University as a learning facility and works with veterinarians for ongoing animal care. Avanti has private den and enclosure areas that are off-limits to guests at all times.
Avanti is described as strong and silent. Avanti does not seek out guest attention and is not trained to interact with visitors. Guests observe Avanti in a natural state at scheduled feeding times. That restraint is part of what makes the experience feel genuine rather than staged.
Avanti hibernates approximately December through February. American black bears in Indiana enter a state of torpor in late fall and emerge in early spring. The exact dates vary year to year based on temperature and environmental conditions. Guests are encouraged to book March through November to reliably observe Avanti at feeding times.
Avanti is a full-grown adult American black bear approximately 20 years old. Adult male American black bears typically weigh between 200 and 600 pounds and stand approximately 3 feet at the shoulder. Exact current dimensions for Avanti are not published. Guests observe Avanti at scheduled feeding times from a safe distance.
Yes. Avanti The Bear Den is USDA licensed for exhibiting animals, insured for animal experiences, and staffed by professional animal handlers on site at all times including overnight. Visible fencing and enclosures separate guests from Avanti at all times. Emergency procedures are in place. No guest incidents have ever occurred at this property.
Yes. There are no age restrictions at Avanti The Bear Den. Children are welcome to observe Avanti the black bear at scheduled feeding times alongside adults. All observation is conducted at a safe distance with visible fencing and professional animal handlers present at all times.
Guests observe Avanti the black bear at scheduled feeding times during their overnight stay at Avanti The Bear Den. This is a supervised observation experience with no touching, no handling, and no structured program. Professional handlers are present. Photography is welcome. The experience is calm and unhurried, taking place on the property in Crown Point, Indiana.
Yes. Avanti lives full time at Avanti The Bear Den wildlife sanctuary in Crown Point, Indiana. Avanti is a permanent resident of the property. Avanti hibernates approximately December through February and is active and visible spring through fall.
Spring and fall are the strongest seasons for visiting Avanti. Spring visits catch Avanti emerging from torpor, when activity levels are high. Fall visits carry urgency because Avanti is feeding heavily before winter in a behavior called hyperphagia. Summer is reliably available for families. All three seasons offer the full Avanti The Bear Den experience.
Black bears in Indiana do not hibernate in the traditional sense. They enter torpor, a lighter form of winter dormancy that differs from true hibernation. Bears in torpor can be roused. Their body temperature drops less dramatically than true hibernators. Avanti enters this state approximately December through February, consistent with black bear patterns across Indiana and the Midwest.
Avanti is typically in torpor for approximately two to three months, from around December through February. The exact duration varies year to year based on temperature, daylight hours, and environmental cues. Avanti is active and reliably visible from approximately March through November.
One private cabin. Avanti the rescued black bear. One hour from Chicago. Book directly through the property website.