Klawz - The Official Mascot of UNC Athletics
Click Here to Check Out Klawz in His Very Own Photo Gallery

Klawz is the newest addition to the long line of Bears' mascots over the years at the University of Northern Colorado. He was recruited after Gunter Bear became exhausted from his duties and retired which left some big shoes to fill. Klawz made his first appearance in Nottingham Field on August 30, 2003 before the UNC football team opened their season against New Mexico Highlands. Klawz has been providing spirit to the UNC athletes and student body ever since.

Not unlike other college mascots, the bear has represented the University of Northern Colorado for over half a century. In the late 1940's the mascot for UNC was the teacher but the University felt that this only represented a segment of their now rapidly expanding student body so they decided to make a dramatic change. Bears have been in Colorado since neolithic times and have been revered for their tremendous strength and ferocity, as well as their knowledge and wisdom of the natural world. The University decided the bear was a much more suitable mascot and has since promoted the image of UNC through the mighty bear.

Bears are very spiritual creatures that depict the raw purity of nature. There are several myths throughout the world that are associated with bears and nearly every culture displays some form of early bear cult or rituals. In Scandinavia, it was believed that if a warrior were to don the skin of a bear which had been treated in oils and herbs, they would gain the bears strength, stamina and power. It is said these warriors were driven into such frenzy that they were capable of biting through their enemy's shields and walking through fire without injury. This bear skin was called a bear-sark and from this originated the word berserk in the English language. There is even a constellation devoted to the bear; Ursa Major and Ursa Minor are the gigantic bears made up of distant stars that prowl the night sky.

Colorado is home to the black bear, a smaller distant cousin of the brown bear. There is also a small population of brown bears in Colorado but they are very rare and on the verge of disappearing in the lower 48 states. Brown bears are enormous creatures weighing between 300 and 860 pounds and standing nearly eight-feet-tall when on two legs.

If you would like Klawz to make an appearance at your event, please contact UNC Marketing Department at (970) 351-2185.