PA Game Commission now accepting bear ‘paw-traits’ for wildlife design competition

( WJET/WFXP ) – Pennsylvania artists have several weeks to get their bearings for the 2025 Working Together for Wildlife Design Contest.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission holds the Working Together for Wildlife Design Contest as a way to raise money for wildlife conservation as well as feature local talents.

PA artists are assigned a featured species, this year being the black bear, and are tasked with creating a painting that focuses on that animal.

The rules for this year’s competition are as follows:

One or more black bears can be featured in a horizontal painting measuring exactly 22 ½ by 15 inches, or a vertical painting measuring exactly 15 by 22 ½ inches.

Each painting must have a 3-inch-wide white border or mat and should be left unsigned and unframed.

Paintings must be delivered to the Game Commission’s headquarters, located at 2001 Elmerton Ave. in Harrisburg, by 4 p.m. on July 22, 2024.

For each entry, there is a $30 non-refundable entrance fee payable to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The winner of the competition will receive a $4,000 prize plus 50 artist-proof prints of their artwork. They will also be required to pencil sign 750 limited edition fine art prints produced from their original painting, which will be sold as a way to raise money for the commission.

“Revenues received from the sale of signed and numbered prints help finance wildlife research and management programs in Pennsylvania, meaning participating artists not only have a chance to take home winnings but to help fund wildlife conservation through their work,” said Lauren Ferreri, who leads the Game Commission’s Bureau of Information and Education.

Monetary prizes will also be awarded for runner-ups. Prizes range from $750 for the second-place painting to $250 for the artist who places fifth.

Participating artists will have the chance to view all entries after final selections are made and pick up their paintings after the viewing period.

More information on the contest can be found on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s website .

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