The Grizzly Story

Our grizzly bears were captured near Yellowstone National Park after returning to human habitation one time too many. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife has a "Three Strikes You're Out" policy where bears are removed from the wild when they approach a recreational or residential area three times. "Tutu", the mother, had been captured in 1988 after seeking grass seed piled for reseeding after the 1988 fires. Aversive conditioning was attempted, and she was released. In July of 1992, there were reports of a female Grizzly that was frequenting campgrounds and bluff charging the campers. This time she was captured, radio collared, and released. She left the area and was not seen again that year. In 1994 she obtained a bag of garbage from a lodge in the North Fork area in Wyoming, was aversive conditioned several times, but still returned to the area. She was captured and relocated, but she returned to the same area by late Fall.

In August of 1995, she began frequenting North Fork lodges again, invaded trash dumpsters, killed pet dogs, and bluff charged lodge employees and guests. She was aversive conditioned several times without success. Finally, she and now her two cubs were captured and relocated to Montana. Unfortunately, she exhibited the same behavior, and the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA was called for assistance or to euthanize the bears. The Zoo was able to provide a temporary home for them until a new facility could be located or until March 1, 1996 when they would be euthanized.

Thanks to the generous donations of time, labor, and money by people in Big Bear and all over the United States, we are able to give these bears a permanent home here in the Moonridge Animal Park. There are behavioral research studies being done by a post-graduate from Cal Poly, Pomona on these Grizzlies.

Tutu was born in 1984. Her cubs were born in Spring 1995. The male cub was named by the Inland Empire Chapter of Harley Davidson Owners; they named him Harley. He now weighs more than his mother. The female cub Ayla (from the book CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR) was named by the zoo keepers.