Orphaned Black Bear Cubs Begin New Life in Fort Worth

Cinnamon and Raisin weren’t born Texans, but they’re settling in like they were. The one-year-old American black bear cubs — rescued after being orphaned in Montana — are the newest residents at the Fort Worth Zoo, where they’ve quickly made themselves at home in the Texas Wild! exhibit.

Introduced via a social media post, the siblings are already drawing attention for their contrasting coats and curious personalities: Cinnamon with her sunlit rust coloring and fearless energy, and Raisin with the classic black bear look and a more laid-back approach to his surroundings.

The cubs were taken in by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks after losing their mother. Officials there determined that, because of the cubs’ young age and growing comfort around humans, returning them to the wild wouldn’t be safe. The Fort Worth Zoo — already home to black bears since 2001 — stepped in to provide a permanent home with the kind of resources and staff experience necessary for their long-term care.

Their new territory is the Pineywoods & Swamps habitat, which walks visitors through a series of Lone Star landscapes. Cinnamon and Raisin wasted no time testing out their new surroundings: climbing logs, pawing through brush, swimming, and generally behaving like two toddlers on a sugar high.

Despite their name, American black bears (Ursus americanus) don’t always come in black. Their coats can range from blond to silver, cinnamon to slate blue. The siblings exemplify this diversity vividly. While they resemble each other, they showcase the rich variations within their species.

Historically meat-eaters, today’s black bears are omnivores who’ll eat just about anything: berries, frogs, fish, honey, eggs, and occasionally leftovers from poorly secured picnic coolers. They’re agile swimmers and fast runners, capable of hitting 30 miles per hour and scaling trees effortlessly. In the wild, they’re typically crepuscular, active at dawn and dusk, but those living near humans often adjust their schedules in the pursuit of easier meals.

Although Cinnamon and Raisin won’t be returning to the forests of Montana, they’ve found a version of wild that works. Surrounded by a careful balance of conservation and care, they’re receiving the second chance that most orphaned cubs never do.

Judging by the videos on the Fort Worth Zoo’s social media, where the pair can be seen wrestling in water and exploring every inch of their new home, they’re making the most of their new lives.

“Providing a home for animals that are no longer able to live in their natural habitat is another way the Zoo remains committed to the care and conservation of all species,” the Zoo noted.

• American Black Bear
• Fort Worth Zoo
• Orphaned Cubs