About Billy the Bear

Billy the Bear is a loveable and friendly black bear who is learning important lessons about planning and saving.

Last year, Billy spent the warmer months enjoying the sunshine and having lots of fun playing in the woods and streams throughout the forest. He didn't think very much about what the winter months would bring, and he didn't plan for hibernation. As the leaves started to fall from the trees and the weather got colder, Billy realized that it was becoming harder and harder to find food. Grasses had stopped growing, fruit was no longer on the trees, berries had shriveled up, and the other animals in the forest had already stashed away all of the nuts to get through the winter. Billy was getting very hungry. Even though he knew it was very dangerous, Billy ventured out of the forest to look for food. Billy didn't have any luck though. He couldn't find any bird feeders or garbage cans to paw through. His friend, the wise old owl, told him that people make sure not to leave any food out that would attract bears as they know it is very dangerous for bears to leave the forest in search of food. Billy knew that people not leaving food out was for his own safety, but he was still hungry and was worried about not having enough energy for a long winter. Billy really wished that he had planned better and saved his energy for hibernation!

Luckily for Billy, the winter was short and he had enough energy to make it through. When he woke up, Billy vowed that he would always plan and save for hibernation so that he never had to be that hungry again. Billy is enjoying spring but is already planning for  hibernation next winter by finding a variety of healthy foods and building up his energy. Billy wants others to learn the importance lessons that he did and now he is teaching all of his friends about planning and saving!