Sure the names are cute. Who wouldn’t want to munch on beary pancakes or sip a grumpy grizzly latte?

But these offerings, and others from businesses in Whatcom and Skagit counties, are part of serious efforts to educate the public about black and grizzly bears in the state during Bear Awareness Week.

The event is being spearheaded in our neck of the woods by Bellingham-based Grizzly Bear Outreach Project, with help from Conservation Northwest.

“We’re not there to tell people whether they should love or loathe bears,” says Chris Morgan, ecologist and director of the Grizzly Bear Outreach Project.

Organizers are there to share information about the bears’ behavior and biology.

“Knowledge about bears reduces fear of bears and increases people’s desire to keep them around,” he says.

The week, which received the nod with a resolution from Gov. Chris Gregoire, aims to help people understand two bear species that face wildly different futures.

“Black bears and grizzly bears face very different problems here in Washington,” Morgan says.

“As more and more people move into black bear habitat, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for these adaptable creatures to ignore temptations,” he says.

Such as rummaging in people’s garbage, eating seeds set out for birds and searching for fruit dangling from trees in people’s backyards.

An estimated 25,000 black bears are found in Washington state. But fewer than 30 grizzlies remain in the North Cascades and Selkirk Mountains, according to Grizzly Bear Outreach Project.

“For the super-rare grizzly bear, it is a more grave concern — avoiding extinction,” Morgan says.

This year marks the inauguration of the statewide event, which will be held the same time as National Bear Awareness Week, organized by Washington, D.C.-based Defenders of Wildlife.

Upcoming bear week events in Whatcom County include:

Grizzly bear slide show and talk from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday at Backcountry Essentials, 214 W. Holly St. in Bellingham. Nan Laney, field coordinator for the Grizzly Bear Outreach Project, will talk about grizzly bear recovery in the North Cascades during the free event.

She also will discuss the bears’ biology and behavior, and share backcountry etiquette.

Groovin’ for Grizzlies fundraiser starts at 7 p.m. May 16 at Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro, 1107 Railroad Ave. in Bellingham.

The event, which culminates bear week, includes live music.

Advance tickets cost $10 per person. Buy them at the brewery, Community Food Co-op, and Village Books. Or pay $12 the day of the event. Children 10 and younger get in for free.

While you’re there, get yourself a Grizzly Brown Cask Conditioned Ale.

Learn more about Bear Awareness Week, including other events, by going to www.conservationnw.org and http://bear info.blogspot.com.

More information on Grizzly Bear Outreach Project is found at www.bearinfo.org.