Orphaned Bear Cubs Find New Home at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Two new fuzzy faces have arrived at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, and they’re un-bear-ably cute. On Sept. 17, the zoo welcomed a pair of 7-month-old black bear cubs from Montana, where they had been orphaned. The bears were declared unable to be released by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), who then reached out to the Cincinnati Zoo knowing that construction on the new Bear Ridge habitat had just been completed.

“The Montana FWP works hard to promote coexistence with bears to minimize conflict and keep both humans and bears safe,” said Kim Scott, the zoo’s curator of mammals, in a Sept. 29 press release. “The goal is to avoid situations that result in orphaned bears, but that does happen in healthy wild bear populations, and the orphans need homes.”

The female cubs are currently taking up residence in Bear Ridge, and while they’re not ready for visitors quite yet, they’re currently settling in behind the scenes, completing health checks and getting comfortable with their new keepers and surroundings before moving into their outdoor habitat.

Bear Ridge is not yet open to the public, but visitors are encouraged to check for announcements from the zoo for a specific date when they can stop by. Once unveiled, the new habitat aims to educate visitors about its residents (including the new bear cubs) through activities, informational signs and in-person interpretations. It’s also meant to spark conversations about how humans and wildlife can better coexist.

“The team is already crazy about these bears,” Scott said in the same Sept. 29 release. “We’re going to provide a great home for them and also hope to inspire guests with the uniqueness of a species that can be found right here in North America.”

For more information, visit cincinnatizoo.org.