Since we posted the photos of our new yearling, Colton Bear, some of you have asked questions about him and about the remodeled Palace.  One comment was that Colton looked lonely.  We know that you were accustomed to seeing the Palace rather crowded with cubs in 2011 and early 2012.  This photo from October 2011 was typical.

When cubs come in at a younger age, they need the companionship of others of their kind, as they have been used to being in a family group with a mother and siblings.  However, a yearling like Colton has already been dispersed by his mother a month or two ago, and has been on his own since that time.  Male yearlings must strike out on their own and find a new territory for themselves, so in the wild a male yearling is most likely to be solitary.  In fact, bears as a species are generally solitary except for a mother with her cubs.  Colton Bear is reported to be very happy in his new digs, and is enjoying the “jungle gym” and tree.  He is eating apples, and other natural foods.