Grizzly Bear Cubs Meet the Public at San Diego Zoo

By Gregg Losinski, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Two 10-month old grizzly bear brothers have started exploring their habitat and meeting the public as they debut at the San Diego Zoo on a rainy morning November 30. The two bears started out life with their mother in Idaho, outside of Yellowstone Park. But their mother was teaching them bad habits, marauding for food in human occupied areas of the Moose Creek Area of Island Park. Before she had cubs, the mother had already been relocated twice because of this type of behavior. Once she taught this behavior to the cubs, a multi-agency team determined that to ensure public safety, all three bears would have to be removed from the wild. "It is the responsibility of those who recreate, vacation or live in bear country to act responsibly. Every trash can and ice chest left out for these bears was another step closer to the bears' removal," said Gregg Losinski, regional conservation educator and head of the Yellowstone grizzly coordinating committee information and education committee for the Idaho Fish and Game. "As a result, these bears are lost to the wild population forever." The mother bear was sent to the College of Veterinary Research Center at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., a facility well known for their work with this species. Unfortunately the University did not have facilities available to house the cubs, and wildlife officials were considering euthanasia if an alternative home could not be found. Animal care staff in San Diego heard about this situation and offered to bring the cubs to the San Diego Zoo from the Montana Wildlife Rehabilitation Center where they were temporarily housed. The cubs appear to be in good health despite their ordeal. One of the cubs was treated by the Center for a fractured jaw. Vets at the San Diego Zoo will continue to monitor this healed injury in coming months. "The two brothers have very distinct personalities," said Gaylene Thomas, animal care supervisor for the San Diego Zoo. "One is much more dominant and a little stubborn, while the other is a bit more curious and exploratory." The bears are slowly acclimating to their new digs, and while they do, they will be given access to their habitat within public view, as well as their private bedroom areas outside of public view. "Both of them are fast learners and just really great personalities," Thomas said. "I think people will just be thrilled to see them." The 100-acre San Diego Zoo is operated by the nonprofit Zoological Society of San Diego. The Zoological Society, dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and their habitats, engages in conservation and research work around the globe. Gregg Losinski is the regional conservation educator in Idaho Falls.