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LECTURE SERIES
POSTPONED UNTIL MID SEPTEMBER
YOUR TICKET WILL STILL BE GOOD AT THE RESCHEDULED EVENT
at Heritage Village, Woodville, Texas
Admission $10
TITLE: RECOVERING THE LOUISIANA BLACK BEAR TO SOUTHEAST TEXAS
by Adrian F. Van Dellen, DVM
ABSTRACT:
Adrian Van Dellen’s photography passion brings us a wonderful tale of Black Bears, scientifically know as Ursus americanus luteolus. There are 16 species of black bears. Two of these were native to East Texas in the past. This species is known as the “gentle ones”. They prefer to be vegetarian eating berries and grass. However, if hungry they will settle for what is available in the line of food. Dr. Van Dellen, was privileged to join a photography group who visited a natural black bear reserve. He has captured many pictures of the bears in their natural habitat and stories to go with them.
BIO: Adrian F. Van Dellen, DVM
Adrian left the family farm in northern Minnesota and began his collegiate career in January 1962 at the State Teachers College in Moorhead, Minnesota.
In the fall of ’62, he transferred to the University of Minnesota as a pre-veterinary student, and in ‘64 was accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1968 as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
After completing an internship at the University in 1969, Adrian entered the United States Air Force Veterinary Corp to serve a two-year commitment that ended up being a 22-year military career, comprising 3 years as Base Veterinarian and 19 service-years in research pathology. His military tour took him and his family to the Azores, Oklahoma, South Africa, Washington DC, and Texas. The final 10 service years were devoted to Clinical Research Pathology at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He retired as Lt. Colonel from the United States Air Force in 1991.
During his service years in San Antonio, visiting east Texas made him fall in love with the Pineywoods, where he has made his permanent home for more than 26 years.
Adrian and his former spouse, Patricia, raised four children, two boys and two girls. They presently have six grandchildren.
Adrian’s artistic passion is Landscape and Wildlife photography that is focused to help preserve riparian biodiversity and Neches river wildness. He is the founder and president of the nonprofit, Neches River Watershed Sentinels, and co-author of two recent publications: Neches River User Guide, by Gina Donovan, Stephen D. Lang and Adrian F. Van Dellen; and, Let the River Run Wild! saving the Neches, by Francis E. Abernethy and Adrian F. Van Dellen, and friends. He is past-president (2017-2020) of the Texas Black Bear Alliance and presently member of the Board of Directors and serves as the Alliance’s Treasurer.
Contact Ofeira Gazzaway (hvillagemuseum@att.net / 409-283-2272) for information.
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