Two and a half months after Hurricane Ian ripped up the grounds at Bearadise Ranch in Myakka City, it was business as usual at Monica Welde's bear haven.
Well, as usual as it can be for the holidays.
Children of all ages roamed through the bears' habit, which was back in full use after the grounds had been cleaned of falling debris, fences had been fixed, and the Welcome Barn had been repaired and was once again serving hot dogs, snacks and drinks.
Welde's Country Bear Christmas Dec. 10-11 featured live music from Renee Riddle and Rambin Rose, juggling by The Great Anastasini, a petting zoo, inflatables for the kids, and, of course, the bears.
Bearadise is once again open for tours on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. while large groups can make reservations for tours at any time.
Panther Ridge 9-year-old Ava Grady enjoys checking out the bears at A Country Bear Christmas at Bearadise Ranch in Myakka City.
Photo by Jay Heater
Riverview's Lucas Day, 9, enjoys feeding a goat in the petting zoo at A Country Bear Christmas.
Photo by Jay Heater
The kids who visited A Country Bear Christmas were able to see bears up close.
Photo by Jay Heater
The bears at Bearadise Ranch are all in the holiday spirit.
Photo by Jay Heater
Santa's sleigh wasn't running so he arrived at Bearadise Ranch in a van. His alter ego is Palmetto's Tony Wilburn.
Photo by Jay Heater
Myakka's Ava Jewel navigates her way through the inflatables at Bearadise Ranch.
Photo by Jay Heater
The Great Anastasini performed his juggling act during A Country Bear Christmas at Bearadise Ranch in Myakka.
Photo by Jay Heater
Myakka's Desi Fritz of Lucy's Llamas says that Annie, a guanaco who is certified as a therapy animal, is her favorite among all the Lucy's Llamas animals. Fritz brought a variety of animals to Bearadise Ranch for a petting zoo.
Photo by Jay Heater
Monica Welde's daughter Jennifer Welde and her son Johnny Welde talk to the crowd and keep Carroll the bear happy with a little honey.
Photo by Jay Heater
Besides the bears, children who attended A Country Bear Christmas could stroll through a petting zoo.
Photo by Jay Heater
Those who attended A Country Bear Christmas at Bearadise Ranch in Myakka were treated to some informative talks about the bears.
Photo by Jay Heater
Bearadise Ranch volunteer Penny Lemon of Sarasota is presented a gift basket by Bearadise owner Monica Welde. Lemon won the raffle on Dec. 10.
Photo by Jay Heater
Carroll, who is now 28 years old, always is a favorite at Bearadise Ranch in Myakka.
Jay Heater is the managing editor of the East County Observer. Overall, he has been in the business more than 41 years, 26 spent at the Contra Costa Times in the San Francisco Bay area as a sportswriter covering college football and basketball, boxing and horse racing.
