The Great American Solar Eclipse occurred on Monday, August 21st and ABR was in the path of totality.  Everyone wondered what effect, if any, this celestial event would have on the bear cubs.  Curator Tom was on duty in the viewing tower to record the cubs’ behavior throughout the eclipse, from start to finish (about 2 1/2 hours).  Here are his images.

It was hot. Rollo decided to check out the Cub Tub.

He climbed in the tub. Rollo seems to prefer this smaller tub to the large Cubby Pool.

We think the cool water must have felt good to him as he sat in the tub.

Rollo is intrigued by the water coming into the pool.

Rollo heard something. What was it?

It’s Otto! Rollo rises to the challenge.

The two cubs have a bit of a boxing match.

Otto got tired of annoying Rollo and moved over to the Cubby Pool.

Otto investigates the safety log at the Cubby Pool.

Otto tries to move the log, but he’s still too small to lift it.

By this time, the eclipse had reached its totality phase.  Curator Tom reported that the two cubs quietly walked into the underbrush, staying there until the sunlight reappeared.  They did not scramble up a tree, as they would have done if they were frightened.

The cubs went into the underbrush during the eclipse.

As for Apollo, he was oblivious inside the Red Roof Recovery Center.

Apollo Bear snoozed during the eclipse.

There were many scientists and others watching to see what various wild animals would do during the solar eclipse.  Our cubs seemed to handle it very well.