Three Orphaned Bear Cubs Find Home at Minnesota Zoo

APPLE VALLEY, MN, UNITED STATES, October 27, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Three orphaned brown bear cubs from Alaska have found a new home at the Minnesota Zoo, where they will be cared for until their public debut in spring 2027. The cubs, two males and one female, were discovered in July near King Salmon, Alaska, after being observed without their mother for nearly a week. Unable to survive on their own, the cubs were rescued by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and transferred to the Alaska Zoo in August. One of the cubs, named Brooks, was treated for minor injuries consistent with a bear attack, suggesting the family may have encountered an adult male bear.

The Minnesota Zoo was selected as the cubs' permanent home thanks to its nearly two decades of experience caring for brown bears, expansive natural habitat, and longstanding partnership with Alaska wildlife officials. The cubs, named Brooks, Bristol, and Dillingham, are currently adjusting to their new surroundings and caregivers at the Minnesota Zoo's Animal Hospital. Each cub has a distinct personality, and their names celebrate the southern Alaska region where they were rescued.

Brooks, the smallest but most outgoing of the trio, is brave and curious, often the first to investigate something new. He is named for the Brooks River in Katmai National Park and Preserve, famous for its wild brown bears. Bristol, the sassy sister, loves chasing her brothers. She has a lighter face, reddish-tinged fur, and a habit of eating while sitting upright or stretched out Superman-style. Named for Bristol Bay, she is the only female in the group. Dillingham, the largest sibling, has a more serious demeanor and keeps a watchful eye on the others. He is named for the fishing community of Dillingham on Bristol Bay.

The cubs' arrival marks a meaningful new chapter for the Minnesota Zoo. In 2008, the Zoo welcomed another trio of orphaned brown bears from Alaska, Sadie, Haines, and Kenai, who became the first residents of Russia's Grizzly Coast.

Like their predecessors, the young cubs will serve as ambassadors for their species, helping guests learn about brown bears and the importance of protecting their natural habitats. The cubs are currently enthusiastic eaters, enjoying fruits, vegetables, and fish, including a pallet of salmon sent as a parting gift from the Alaska Zoo. Over the next few months, the cubs will remain behind the scenes, growing, playing, and building relationships with their caregivers. In fall and winter 2026, they will continue to be active, unlike older bears, who naturally enter a period of reduced activity called torpor. In spring 2027, the trio is expected to make its public debut at Russia's Grizzly Coast, alternating time in the habitat with Sadie, the Zoo's 21-year-old resident brown bear.

Adult male brown bears can weigh 500-900 pounds or more, while females typically weigh 250-600 pounds. The Minnesota Zoo has a longstanding history of providing homes for rescued Alaska wildlife that cannot return to the wild, including bears, wolves, a red fox, and a pine marten. The cubs' arrival is part of the Zoo's commitment to conservation and education, and guests will have the opportunity to learn more about these magnificent creatures and the challenges they face in the wild.