#lava bear

[cryptid-quest]

Cryptid (kind of) of the Day: Lava Bear

Description: Lava Bears were once believed to be a dwarf species of black bears, with woolly fur and about the size of a badger. It was later determined that lava bears were malformed black bears cubs caused by the lack of food at where they’re found, lava beds, and not a new species. 

[deathvaletcomicseries]

On Death Valet Chapter 2 Page 24. Which fires burned brighter this day? The flamethrower’s flames or Winston Pike’s fury? Script, story and characters by me. Lineart, inks and lettering done by https://www.deviantart.com/iadm colors and shading done by https://www.deviantart.com/phobos-romulus

[knickknackgalore]

Lava Bear Meta Zoo (MetaTwo) Card 116/214 from the MZ1 Set

[creepybits]

Lava Bear (Dwarf Grizzly, North American Sun Bear, Sand Lapper)

Now I know what your first thought is, no this bear did not live in a volcano like Rodan and was not some elemental beast covered in lava or fire. It was said to inhabit the Lava beds around central Oregon.

O T McKendree shot and killed the first Lava Bear seen in 1917, the photo above is of the taxidermied animal. McKendree discovered that the Bear was an adult even though it was the size of a cub. The taxidermied Bear was sent to Washington DC that same year for further study but not before it was displayed in the Dalles, Lakeview and featured in a magazine. Clinton Hart Merriam, a zoologist working for the Bureau of Biological Studies, identified the bear as an American Black Bear. Now one would expect this to be the end of the Lava Bear mystery, but it would seem this news did not reach Oregon as bears mistaken for Lava Bears would be killed or captured until 1934. Magazines such as the Oregon Sportsman and the Saturday Evening Post are most likely to blame for the sensationalism surrounding the Lava Bear at the time. The Oregon Sportsman was the original magazine that showed the photo of the Bear. An article written by Irvin Cobb in the Saturday Evening Post about a hunting trip he went on in 1920 to find the Lava Bear caused an increase of interest in the misidentified bears.

Alfred Andrews captured a Lava Bear in 1924, which the Smithsonian Institution offered him $2,000 for. Like any sensible person would, Alfred declined the offer and took the Bear on tour. Taking the bear to several cities in Oregon and Los Angeles in California. Sadly the animal was stolen by his then partner Harry Thrall and never seen again.

Several more bears would be captured over the next decade all ranging in size and weight. On average 25 to 30 inches in length with the smallest ever captured being 17 inches in length. These bears weighed 25 to 30 pounds and were thought to be stunted caused by a lack of nutritional sources in the area around the lava beds.

The latest occurrence of a Lava Bear “sighting” was in 1981 when foot prints were found in Fort Rock.

[mellowyknox]

"The Rover" Trailer

Production: Porchlight / Lava Bear Sydney, A24 New York Director: David Michôd Cinematographer: Natasha Braier

Screens:

Year: 2014

[travelerskeep]

Annual fundraiser to benefit Child's Play

I’ve donated two items this year - both are fabric art replicas of Devin “Featherweight” Harrigan’s illustrations from Loading Ready Run’s D&D campaign: Temple of the Lava Bears.

First is iconic hymnal cover of Pele’s volcano and a lava bear. The appliqued design is on an 11x14″ canvas and will be a giveaway item.  Timeframe: 06:00PM PST, Nov 15th - 02:00AM PST, Nov 16th.

Second is the lava bear head t-shirt design. The appliqued design is also on an 11x14″ canvas and is part of a special Lava Bear Lot that includes original art from Featherweight and a Lava Bear plush! This lot will also be a giveaway.  Timeframe: 10:00AM PST, Nov 18th - 06:00PM PST, Nov 18th.

Be sure to sign up for a donor account ahead of any auctions and giveaways you’d like to participate in. If these two items aren’t for you, there are TONS of other wonderful and amazing things, both handmade and not, that you can win!

Tune in Saturday November 14th starting at 10 AM PST!