Three orphaned brown bear cubs from Alaska have a new home in Apple Valley this month, after being found without their mother for nearly a week near King Salmon, Alaska, this past July. The siblings — brothers Brooks and Dillingham, and sister Bristol — are about nine months old and are now adjusting to caregivers and surroundings at the Minnesota Zoo's Animal Hospital.
The cubs were rescued by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and transferred to the Alaska Zoo in August, according to MPR News. One of the three cubs was treated for minor injuries consistent with a bear attack, with the injuries suggesting the cubs' family may have encountered an adult male bear, though the exact circumstances of their mother's disappearance remain unknown. As KARE 11 reports, wildlife officials determined the cubs would not survive alone in the wild before moving them into care.
A Zoo With Experience Caring For Orphaned Bears
The Minnesota Zoo became the cubs' permanent home because of its experience caring for brown bears, its large natural habitat, and its partnership with Alaska wildlife officials, per the same KARE 11 report. The zoo has previously provided homes for rescued Alaska wildlife unable to return to the wild, including bears, wolves, a red fox and a pine marten. Zoo curator Diana Weinhardt said the cubs have a bright future, telling MPR News, “It's incredibly special to begin that journey again.”
That journey echoes one the zoo took nearly two decades ago. Sadie, Haines and Kenai arrived at the Minnesota Zoo in 2008, becoming the first residents of its Russia's Grizzly Coast habitat, according to the same MPR News report. Kenai died in February 2024 at age 17 after zoo officials said he had late-stage liver cancer, per MPR News's earlier coverage. Once Brooks, Bristol and Dillingham make their public debut, they'll alternate time in the habitat with Sadie, now 21 years old, the outlet notes.
Meet Brooks, Bristol and Dillingham
Each cub reportedly carries a distinct personality and a name tied to their Alaska roots, according to KARE 11. Brooks, the smallest of the three, was named after the Brooks River in Katmai National Park and Preserve and is described as brave and curious, often the first to investigate new things. Dillingham, the largest cub, was named for the fishing community of Dillingham on Bristol Bay and carries a serious demeanor, keeping a watchful eye on his siblings.
Bristol, the lone female, was named after Bristol Bay and is known for chasing her brothers around, KARE 11 reports. She has a lighter face and reddish-tinged fur compared to her siblings, and often eats sitting upright or stretched out in what caregivers call a Superman-style pose.
Settling In Behind The Scenes
The cubs are currently adjusting well to their new surroundings and caregivers at the zoo's Animal Hospital, per the MPR News report. Their diet includes fruits, vegetables and fish — including a pallet of salmon the Alaska Zoo sent along as a farewell gift. Per KARE 11, the cubs will remain behind the scenes through the fall and winter, continuing to grow, play and bond with caregivers before an expected public debut at Russia's Grizzly Coast in spring 2027.
Unlike older bears, young cubs stay active throughout the winter rather than slowing down, KARE 11 reports, while Sadie is expected to enter torpor, a natural period of reduced activity during the colder months. Guests may still catch glimpses of Sadie outdoors when she chooses to spend time in her habitat. Brooks, Bristol and Dillingham are expected to serve as ambassadors for their species once they debut, helping visitors learn about brown bears and habitat conservation.
What Kind Of Bears Are They
The cubs are identified as Alaska Peninsula brown bears, or Ursus arctos gyas, a subspecies native to coastal southern Alaska and considered among the largest bears in North America, according to KARE 11. Adult males of the subspecies can weigh 500 to 900 pounds or more, while females typically weigh between 250 and 600 pounds. Brown bears broadly can grow to roughly 1,300 pounds and 10 feet tall, and their diet is mostly plant material supplemented by fish, insects and mammals, with salmon a favorite among bears living along the coasts, according to the Minnesota Zoo.
Brown bear range has decreased worldwide, though those in the Russian Far East remain among the strongest, the Minnesota Zoo notes, with poaching of bears and the salmon they rely on threatening their long-term future. For now, Brooks, Bristol and Dillingham have a quieter task ahead: growing up out of public view, ahead of the day Minnesota families finally get to meet them.
