Common Name: North American Black Bear
Scientific Name: Ursus americanus
Gender: Male
Birth Date: January 1987
History: Shortly after being transported from California into Nevada, this bear was abandoned by his original owner. With the help of the Nevada Humane Society, the Nevada Division of Wildlife was finally able to locate the animal at a home in Washoe Valley. The people housing Yogi had neither State nor County permits and could not afford to build a suitable enclosure. If the bear was to stay alive another home had to be found quickly and Animal Ark was contacted. If Yogi had been returned to California, he would have been euthanized because he had been “de-clawed” and was socialized to humans. With assistance from the Nevada Humane Society and the Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation, a specialized enclosure was constructed. The Nevada Division of Wildlife provided the transportation and Yogi arrived at Animal Ark on June 26, 1989.

Common Name: North American Black Bear
Scientific Name: Ursus americanus
Gender: Female
Birth Date: February or March 2006
History: Gracie was born in captivity in the eastern United States. She was confiscated by the Nevada Department of Wildlife due to permit violations when a warden saw her at a travel trailer near Elko. Department officials delivered the very young, 9 ½ pound cub to the Animal Ark on April 22. Like any young animal, she required a great deal of specialized care in bottle feeding, diet, housing, nurturing and exercise. The individual who transported the cub illegally across state lines and then sold her as a pet was charged and found guilty for the offense.

Animal Ark in cooperation with NDOW has successfully released a number of orphaned bears back into the wild. Because of Gracie’s history, she is destined to live the rest of her life in captivity.

Common Name: North American Black Bear
Scientific Name: Ursus americanus
Gender: Female
Birth Date: January 2000
History: Amy’s first visit to our sanctuary was April 10, 2001 as a thin, malnourished cub of sixteen months weighing only twenty-five pounds. No mother bear was ever located. Amy was fed and fed and fed until she reached fifty pounds, regained good health, and appeared restless which indicated that she was ready to return to the wild. Thanks to the efforts of a biologist from the Nevada Division of Wildlife and a researcher from UNR, this cub received an ear tag and radio transmitter that would indicate her whereabouts so the youngster could be monitored to some degree. She then became part of a UNR led study of urbanized and wild bears and their feeding habits. Amy was released into Nevada’s prime bear habitat. After a few months she wandered out of this region showing little fear of humans as she traveled in search of food. This bear was different from the other cubs which the Ark had temporarily housed in the past. She was more trusting toward people and less fearful. While we did not interact with her at the Ark, we wondered if she had been fed frequently at an earlier age by well-meaning individuals. This often leads to the death of wild bears. As Amy struggled in the wild she became weak and hungry, which indicated poor survival skills. After being located once again by the research team, it was time to pick her up. No one knew how weak she was until her capture. At thirty-four pounds she was malnourished and dehydrated. Amy would not have survived much longer in the wild.