A celebration of the
Bart the Bear
Heber City, Wasatch County
One of Utah's most beloved animals, Bart the Bear (1977-2000) was a Heber-based movie and television actor trained by Doug and Lynne Seus. Wildlife Walls has partnered with Heber City, Heber Valley Entertainment, Body and Soul Studios, the Utah Film Commission and the Vital Ground Foundation to celebrate Bart's legacy with this mural, made possible through support from a Heber City TAPS grant and Vital Ground.
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This mural project coincided with the release of Lynne Seus's book "The Grizzlies and Us". The celebration of this mural was a perfect opportunity to celebrate the book release, Bart's movie legacy, and all the local love Heber has for Bart and the Seus's. Heber Valley Entertainment and Wildlife Walls hosted a Bart the Bear Film Festival November 15 & 16th 2024. Grizzly bear activist and longtime friend of the Seus's- Doug Peacock- participated in the two day event. The community came out in force to support and celebrate Bart at the event, with some of Bart's best movies were shown, Doug and Lynne shared many Bart stories, and the the grizzly conservation work of Vital Ground was highlighted.
This Wildlife Walls project was made possible through key partnerships.
This mural is part of Utah Wildlife Walls, a grassroots-led public art and engagement project to
celebrate Utah’s wildlife diversity by installing at least one monumental wildlife mural in each
of Utah’s 29 counties. “Home of Bart the Bear” was designed and installed by Chris Peterson
Studio in November 2024, in partnership with Utah Wildlife Federation and made possible through
funding from the Vital Ground Foundation and Heber City’s TAPS grant. The mural installation was
accompanied by the fi rst-ever Bart the Bear Film Festival with Doug and Lynne Seus and their friend,
the author and longtime grizzly advocate Doug Peacock, telling stories about Bart and grizzly bears.
Learn more about the initiative by scanning the QR code or visiting www.celebrateutahwildlife.org.
About Bart the Bear
One of Utah's most beloved animals, Bart the Bear (1977-2000) was a Heber-based movie and television actor trained by Doug and Lynne Seus. Wildlife Walls has partnered with Heber City, Heber Valley Entertainment, Body and Soul Studios, the Utah Film Commission and the Vital Ground Foundation to celebrate Bart's legacy with this mural, made possible through support from a Heber City TAPS grant and Vital Ground.
Born in captivity in 1977, Bart was adopted by Doug and Lynne when he was just five weeks old. From a 5-pound fuzzball to a gentle giant measuring 9’6″ and 1,500 pounds, Bart grew into one of the most famous—and influential—animal actors ever. Beginning with his role in “The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams” while still a cub, Bart starred in more than 30 film and television titles, including “Legends of the Fall”, “White Fang”, “The Bear” and many more.
In 1990, in the wake of Bart’s early movie successes, Doug and Lynne co-founded Vital Ground, a nonprofit land trust that conserves habitat for grizzly bears and other wildlife in the northern Rocky Mountains. Founded in Utah, Vital Ground is now headquartered in Missoula, Mont. The organization has helped protect and enhance more than 1 million acres of habitat for grizzlies and all things wild, creating a large and lasting conservation legacy for Bart and his successors, Bart the Bear II, Tank the Bear and Honey Bump the Bear.
Barts Biggest Film Credits:
Legends of the Fall (1995)
The Edge (1996)
Meet the Deedles (1997)
Television:
The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (1977-78)
The Gambler (1983)
Down the Long Hills (1986)
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (1994)
Young Riders (1995)
Lonesome Dove: Dead Man’s Walk (1996)
McKenna (1996)
Academy Awards (1998)
Windwalker (1980)
Clan of the Cave Bear (1984)
The Bear (1987)
The Great Outdoors (1988)
Lost in the Barrens (1989)
Giant of Thunder Mountain (1990)
The Great American West (1991)
White Fang (1992)
On Deadly Ground (1993)
Walking Thunder (1993)
Red River (1994)
Yellowstone (1994)
About Grizzly Bears
Vital Ground began because Doug and Lynne wanted Bart’s life to matter for more than just movies. When Bart was born, barely 500 wild grizzlies remained in the Lower 48, from an estimated 50,000 that once roamed the West from the Pacific Coast to the Great Plains. Conservation and coexistence efforts over the past 50 years have helped the Lower48’s grizzly populations gradually rebound to a total of roughly 2,000 bears, but they remain largely confined to islands of protected habitat,primarily in and around Glacier and Yellowstone national parks.Icons of wildness and the rugged American West, grizzlies are wide-ranging omnivores that evolved to thrive in ecosystems ranging from prairies and tundra to high mountains and coastal rainforests.
With adults typically weighing 500-1,200 pounds, these mighty animals need open space and connected habitat in order to move freely, find food
and mates, and maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations. Vital
Ground works to re-connect the grizzly’s wild strongholds in the Lower
48 by protecting private lands in key linkage areas that connect mountain
ranges, and by partnering with communities and agencies to prevent
conflicts between bears and people. You can learn much more about
Bart, his legacy and wild grizzlies and get involved in their conservation
story at www.vitalground.org.
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Grizzly bears are large and range in color from very light tan (almost white) to dark brown.
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They have a dished face, short, rounded ears, and a large shoulder hump. The hump is where a mass of muscles attach to the bear’s backbone and give the bear additional strength for digging!
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They have very long claws on their front feet that also give them extra ability to dig after food and to dig their dens.
Where to observe grizzly bears
While grizzly bears no longer inhabit Utah, their legacy is preserved through stories like that of Old Ephraim, a legendary grizzly that roamed the Bear River Range in the early 20th century. Visitors can explore Old Ephraim's gravesite in Logan Canyon, marked by an 11-foot stone monument commemorating one of Utah's last known grizzlies.
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Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming/Montana/Idaho) and Glacier National Park (Montana) are the best nearby places to observe grizzly bears in the wild.
Lynne Seus and her husband, Doug Seus, started with twenty-five cents and a dream they were told was preposterous. Their family and friends repeated, "You can't just go rescue grizzly bears and turn them into movie stars." Yet, Bart the Bear roared to fame and was recognized as a star, and featured as a presenter at the 70th Academy Awards. This magnificent animal shared the screen with some of the most famous faces in Hollywood, as did his namesake, the orphaned cub, Bart the Bear 2. Their most important role, however, was their inspiration for the Vital Ground Foundation. Their name and power connected celebrities and wilderness advocates to preserve over one-million acres of wildland to date. The lives of these beloved grizzlies had to matter for something more than movies.In The Grizzlies and Us you will laugh, you might cry, and then you might laugh some more at the stories of the great soul of the great bear at the heart of a family.
This is a story that no one else can tell. That is unless one has over 50 years of singular memories with five grizzly bears, a black bear, wolf packs, cougars, coyotes, eagles, foxes, bobcats, owls, raccoons, deer, a badger named Billy, and a trio of human children. "You can't do this," they said. "Nobody does this." This is how we did it. It is a love story.
ALL PROFITS FROM THIS BOOK WILL GO TO THE VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION.
Bart the Bear Mural
Designed and installed by Chris Peterson Studio
While scouting locations for murals with Heber City representatives we came upon the idea for a Bart the Bear mural on the side of the Avon Theater. We wrote a grant application for the City's new TAPS grant and were awarded the majority of the funds to make it happen. We reached out to the Seus's and Vital Ground to help us find the remaining funds and get feedback on the project.
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We went through multiple rounds of designing for the mural, but weren't able to develop a concept supported by the neighboring property owner. As we started looking around for a backup wall, Doug Seus referred us to his longtime friend Mel Price, who owned a building across from the Avon. Despite the building already having a mural on it, Mel was excited to partner with us to celebrate the iconic bear on one of the most visible walls in town.
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The Body and Soul Studios building sits at the corner of 100 South & Main Street. The business- run by Missy and Heather- became an important partner in this project; from supporting the mural installation process, to spreading the word about the film festival and mural project, and ultimately creating a space inside the building for Bart the Bear memorabilia and souvenirs for sale. On the night of the film festival, locals piled into the building to have Lynne sign their copies of the book and reminisce over the one-of-a-kind memorabilia on display.
The Bart Film Festival was held at the Avon Theater on November 15th and 16th, 2024. It included screenings of some of Barts most memorable movies, as well as many stories from Doug and Lynne Seus. The organization the Seus's founded on Barts behalf-Vital Ground Foundation- also participated; educating the public about grizzlies and the impressive conservation legacy of the organization. Longtime family friend and grizzly activist Doug Peacock journeyed from Montana to celebrate Bart and grizzlies at the event.
From the Artist
“I grew up in Provo, and had heard about Bart the Bear growing up, but until I started working on this project to celebrate Bart in 2024, I had no idea how much love there is in Wasatch County for Bart and the Seus's. A whole generation of locals there have first-hand memories of seeing Bart about town back in the day. That recognition that the corner I was painting a mural was likely the first place some locals had actually spotted Bart; back when Doug used to walk him down Main Street for training. What a legend! " -chris peterson
Did you know? Heber has two Wildlife Walls! Don't miss the Foam is Home Brown trout mural a few blocks from this wall @ 400 S. Main Street.
Celebrate Utah's wildlife with big art and wildlife encounters across the state on the Wildlife Walls Mural Trail.
Nearby Wildlife Viewing Opportunities
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Osprey @ Charleston Day Use Area: Nesting platforms near the Provo River attract osprey from spring through late summer. Bring binoculars and scan the treetops.
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Otters and mule deer @ Cascade Springs: Located above the Alpine Loop, Cascade Springs is a lush wetland area fed by natural springs. River otters, mule deer, and a variety of birds are often seen along the boardwalk trails, particularly in early morning or dusk.
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Brown trout and otters @ Provo Riverwalk and Fishing Site: Just west of Heber, this easily accessible stretch of river is a great spot to observe brown trout in the pools and riffles. Lucky visitors may also see river otters.
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Osprey @ Jordanelle State Park: During summer months, osprey can be seen fishing and nesting around the reservoir. Visit the Hailstone Day Use Area or take a paddleboard or kayak out for a better view.
Wildlife Etiquette: Always observe from a distance, stay on marked trails, and never feed wild animals.
The Provo River in Heber Valley is a blue-ribbon trout stream where brown trout are plentiful and excellent public access is available.
Recommended Fishing Outfitters
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Fish Heads Fly Shop (Heber City): A trusted local outfitter offering guided fly fishing trips and gear. Their shop on Main Street also has two Chris Peterson murals inside, including a fishing map of the Middle Provo River.
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Hatch Academy (Provo and Weber Rivers): Specializing in teaching beginners how to flyfish on the rivers of the Wasatch.
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Spinner Fall (Green River, Dutch John): Providing guided float fishing trips on the legendary Green River at Dutch John.
Plan your trip
Travel Amenities
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Bathrooms and Water:
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Accomodations:
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Fuel and Supplies:
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While in Heber, Consider Exploring:
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Trips offered by Guides and Outfitters (Currently seeking partners. contact us)
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Planning Your Visit
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Best Time to Visit: Wildlife is most active in early mornings and late afternoons, especially in spring and fall, when temperatures are cooler.
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Stay Informed: Before embarking on outdoor activities, check local weather forecasts and trail conditions.​
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Safety First: Wear appropriate footwear, carry sufficient water, and be aware of local wildlife, including rattlesnakes.​
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Respect Wildlife: Observe animals from a distance, refrain from feeding them, and adhere to guidelines set by local wildlife authorities
Visit Heber: Gateway to the best of Utah's wildlife
Full-Service Fly Shop Only 3 Minutes From The Provo River
