It has been hunting season in Great Bend, teddy bear and Easter egg hunting that is.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders, “we’ve started doing a lot of different things for the community,” Great Bend City Coordinator Christina Hayes said. “Also, we are trying to get some people to recognize and not forget that we have wonderful businesses, even if they aren’t open.”

One of these activities was the bear hunt, which she said they are extending through May 3. Businesses and homes have posted teddy bears and bear art in their windows for people to “find.”

“I am going to challenge the public to go out and count all the bears and then post them on the Explore Great Bend Facebook page,” Hayes said.

Residents are urged to count how many bears they can see around town in front windows. There will be bonus entries awarded to those who include selfies with the business bears.

City officials will randomly draw a winner who will receive two Golden Belt Community Theater gift certificates, one $25 gift certificate to a Great Bend store and the Great Bendopoly game.

“This offers Great Bend residents a safe, outdoor activity of visually finding the bears around town while still practicing safe social distancing,” Hayes said. And, she noted, there are a lot of bears on the prowl, so folks are encouraged to keep their eyes peeled.

Also, the city sponsored an Easter egg hunt along the same lines. “This was extremely, extremely successful,” Hayes said. 

“I think this was thanks to a lot of people, participants in their homes, and then of course businesses as well,” she said. There were other individuals, including the Easter Bunny, involved, too.

One family reported counting 220 eggs throughout town. “That’s pretty impressive,” she said. 

So, two winners were picked randomly from those who posted selfies on Explore Great Bend. The Kayleen Weber family and the Reagan Parr family each received two movie theater tickets and a $25 gift certificate.