The bear cubs at ABR are getting ready for hibernation, although this will be their first time, so they probably aren’t aware that they are doing that. Their instincts tell them to eat as much as they can, and the curators are cooperating by providing plenty of acorns, peanuts, chestnuts, apples, and pears. The cubs also dine on tasty insects found in the enclosures. On dry days, they are treated to Mazouri Bear Diet Pellets, but it’s been rather wet lately, so no pellets at this time.

Wild Enclosure #1 this morning.

Rain sent the cubs up trees.

All of the cubs in Enclosure #2 slept on the same platform! Will it collapse like the platform in #1?

They started to forage, until the rain came.

All of the cubs in Enclosure #3. At least they are spread out a little bit! There are a lot of cubs there!

Time to wake up and get busy eating!

Trees are used like fireman’s poles – the cubs slide down to the ground.

An early start for the cubs in Wild Enclosure #4, as they get to work eating.

In the Acclimation Pen, there is a stand-off.

A conversation took place.

Chomp! Bear cubs don’t work things out by conversing. They get physical!