Meet Kati Krouse of Bears Etc.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kati Krouse.

Kati is an animal lover. From taming her grandfather’s barn cats when she was little to helping to save captive exotics and wild animals as an adult, She’s been passionate about their well being her entire life.

As a teen, she found herself working for a veterinarian and volunteering at Black Pine Animal Sanctuary, an exotic animal refuge, quickly learning of the high demand for rescuing captive exotic animals. During Veterinary Technician school at Purdue University, Kati volunteered at Wildcat Creek Wildlife Center and interned at the Wildlife Center of Virginia. These places helped teach her how to treat wildlife with dignity and how the needs and behaviors of wild animals are so different than that of domestic dogs and cats.

She spent many years grooming dogs, most of those as a manager and instructor. Kati prides herself on the placing of her clients’ well being first and educating the public. Her employees and students are encouraged to use force-free grooming with as little stress as possible, making the experience a good one for the animals. Kati’s life came full circle when she became Assistant Manager at Black Pine Animal Sanctuary, as her dreams of working at a sanctuary and rescuing animals in need were coming true. She learned that the needs for animals in jeopardy were more than she could ever have imagined, especially for bears.

Kati assisted with animal rescue operations on a regular basis with Black Pine and with Outreach for Animals, another charitable organization dedicated to teaching responsible behavior around wild animals and improving lives. Throughout all of these experiences, she helped train many interns and volunteers, and planted seeds of awareness in them and members of the public to encourage respect for animals, and to help wild animals in need.

Fielding phone calls on a regular basis for bears, tigers, parrots, and the occasional alligator in need has been all too common throughout Kati’s experiences.

Always with limited staff, funding, and resources having to say “I’m sorry, we just can’t take another animal at this time” became a frequent reply. As such, Kati set new goals and plans for Bears, Etc. were put into motion. She moved to the Houston area to pursue her hopes and dreams of opening a sanctuary, specifically for bears, and Bears Etc. is now on its way to becoming a reality.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all… I’ve been working full time while working for Bears Etc. full time (I do not receive a paycheck from Bears Etc.). My husband and I have been putting in 13 to 15 hours a day to bring Bears Etc. to where it is today. In our first year its been a struggle to figure out what events to participate in and who to prioritize meetings with. Also, our biggest event of the year had to be canceled due to Hurricane Harvey. Through all of this, we are continuing to move forward. This first year has been an experience. With the help of others, our second year will be better.

Our current obstacle is securing a property that best fits our needs. While there are a lot of properties out there currently for sale, many are out of our price range, have a gas pipeline running through them, or the placement of the homes on site would be in the middle of the sanctuary. The perfect property would be 15-20 acres of unrestricted property, with a well, electric, and septic, already in place. A house is not needed as we’ll be building a gift shop, with restrooms, once we are open to the public. However, if there is a house, that would be a great asset.

Bears Etc. – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Bears Etc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Our mission is to exist to provide a permanent, community-based, self-sustainable refuge for displaced exotic and wild animals and educate others about the natural world. Our passion is to help leave the planet better than we found it by connecting people with nature by providing both humans and animals a PEACE of the wild.

As a sanctuary, we do not buy, sell, breed, trade, seek out animals, or use them for entertainment. There are several big cats (lions, tigers, etc.) and wolf/wolfdog sanctuaries across the country. There are no bear sanctuaries. There are many big cat sanctuaries offering placement for bears but, space is limited. Bears are more difficult to care for, than cats, because they dig, climb, and are very strong. They, also, require more enrichment because they are very smart. Cats will sleep 20 out of 24 hours a day, while bears don’t. Bears will also eat 40 pounds of produce a day.

There are currently over 1,000 bears identified across the U.S. living in substandard housing in peoples’ backyards and roadside attractions. This means they do not have adequate basic necessities of food, water, shelter, and veterinary care. These bears need our help.

Our plans, once a property is secured, is to become self-sustainable. We are in the process of starting a food forest to be able to feed the bears. We are building relationships with other businesses, and the food bank, to take on any food that can’t be eaten by people. Whatever we don’t use, becomes composted, turned into soil. and then used in our food forest. Along with this, we will have a pollinator refuge, and Monarch Way Station, to provide food and shelter for our much-needed pollinators that we, in turn, need to pollinate our food forest.

There is the Etc. side of Bears Etc. There are many facets to this. The first is beside bears, Bears Etc. is prepared to take on other animals like tigers, tortoises, etc. that can no longer be properly cared for. The second is saving humans. This includes education. Bears are moving back into Texas and we want to be at the forefront to prevent human/bear conflicts. By going out into the community and talking about bears, we hope to help keep hunters and ranchers safe.

The other human aspect is providing onsite housing for interns and veterans. We will help people, who have an interest in working with animals, gain working experience in this field. We will, also, work with Texas A&M and their welding program to teach Veterans how to weld caging, and transport cages, so they can gain experience in the field to then go on to secure employment.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Every time I see the jaw drop at my talks or I hear people repeat what I’ve told them. That’s a success. I’ve planted that seed in them to be better for the planet. When we can open our doors and rescue that first, second, and even third bear, that is success.

We’ve been able to successfully grow and can offer that next animal placement. When Bears Etc. is doing so well, and we’re having so many visitors, I don’t have time to work my other job anymore, we will have success. When I see my passion in the staff, volunteers, and visitors, of Bears Etc., for the people, plants, and animals living on this planet, that will be success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bearsetc.org
• Phone: 832.779.0442
• Email: info@bearsetc.org
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BearsEtc

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