As a kid, Casey Anderson loved animals. His nickname was “animal magnet.” He grew up in Montana and spent a lot of time in the wilderness. He studied wildlife biology in school.

After college, Casey worked at a job helping to save wild animals in Montana. He traveled to Kenya to work at an elephant orphanage. Later he worked as an animal keeper and trainer at a wildlife park. He also worked as an actor.

In 2002, Casey went to Yellowstone Bear World. It was an overcrowded park. The bears were kept in poor conditions. Casey adopted a newborn bear cub to save it from a life in the park.

Casey named his bear Brutus. Brutus was a grizzly bear. He grew very fast and very big. He needed a special place to live.

In 2004, Casey built the Montana Grizzly Encounter. He made it for Brutus. Brutus lived there along with several other bears. At the encounter, Casey was able to rescue other grizzlies. He studied the grizzlies that he rescued to learn more about the majestic bears.

Brutus was comfortable around people. So Casey trained him as an acting bear. Brutus starred in TV commercials and educational videos. Casey and Brutus appeared together on a National Geographic special. They also acted in a movie called Iron Ridge.

Casey worked with a lot of bears, but Brutus was his special friend. Brutus was even the best man in his wedding. He was sad when Brutus died in 2021 at the age of 19. But he will never forget his furry friend.