Each of the ABR yearlings is doing well, even the two recent (injured) arrivals.

Nettles is showing increased bravery as she enters the Acclimation Pen that she avoided for so long.

Like her neighbors, the Christmas yearlings, she is interested in that gate that leads – where?

She sits and stares at the gate, but nothing happens.

Nettles has become nice and round! Good bear!

In a surprise move, Nettles races toward the Cubby Pool. She has not been seen there before.

A bigger surprise – she sits on the safety log and soaks her nubbin!

But not for long – then she races off into the underbrush.

Enough of that – she returns to her safe space – in her tree.

Breakfast is served for Rover Bear. No, that’s not Rover in the picture – that is Not A Polar Bear. Rover is in the next room while the curator cleans this one.

Rover returns and eats! He has a good appetite!

Showing his good bear manners, he backs away to deposit his scat.

Lovey rakes through the cedar chips to find hidden grapes. This is good bear behavior, too, and what he would do in the wild.

Since he has finished his meds, the curators have cut back on their visits to his quarters. We don’t want him to be too comfortable with humans.

The Christmas siblings were in the trees all day.

Until Mistletoe decided to come down to forage.

Reaching the ground, he looked around to see where the food was.

Mistletoe raked for peanuts, just the way Lovey raked for grapes. Good bear behavior!

Soon, his sister, Peppermint, came down to forage.

We’ve seen good bear behavior today. The mama bears did their job, instilling the proper bear manners and behavior in their cubs. It’s amazing that even though these little ones were orphaned they learned and remembered those early lessons. A lot of the behavior is simply instinctive, as well.