These two orphaned bears arrived at IEAS when they were just seven months old. They had witnessed their mother being tragically shot in order to protect human life. Their mother was doing what she was supposed to do...protect her cubs. As you can imagine, when they arrived, they were scared, lonely and unsure of humans. However, with the use of our Emotional Enrichment Program, these bears soon exchanged their fears and anxiety for a new found fondness for their new home and their human caregivers. They began to trust their human caregivers more and more every day. Louis Dorfman, Animal Behaviorist, and Christi Gilbreth, Curator/Asst. Animal Behaviorist, sat with them for many hours every day earning their trust and providing them with a source of security and comfort. In a way, they were becoming their parents, and that is how these motherless bears began to look at them. It wasn't long before they were coming up to Louis and Christi, eating grapes and apples from their hand, sitting beside them and rubbing on their legs. Dakar and Meyote were the first residents in our natural five-acre habitat known as Bear Orphanage. Bear Orphanage is filled with everything bears enjoy, including trees to climb, thickets to play in, meadows to roam and ponds to swim in. They are now able to act like wild bears. They began to take walks in the meadow with Louis and Christi, coming up to them for reassurance then off to chase a butterfly or chase each other playfully. They loved peanuts that were handed them as the walks progressed. Last winter, they even dug their own den and went into hibernation for about two months. The day they came out of hibernation, Louis was present, and they approached him as if they had seen him the day before rather than four months previously, enjoying the rubbing on their necks and backs just like the summer before. They also came out to find they had two new neighbors, Lucky and Lucy. They have adjusted well and are getting along nicely with their new residents. Help support Meyote.

Personality Traits

Meyote is a little more aware of her surroundings. The first summer she enjoyed being hand fed by Louis. She too would walk around following Louis around Bear Orphanage. Her favorite spot seemed to be the meadow area. She would spend afternoons with Louis, lying around and playing with Dakar. Louis has not been able to walk with them this summer because it would aggravate the tenuous relationship they have with the younger bears. Lucy, the younger female, wants to be next to Louis whenever possible, which might cause conflict. We have seen Meyote with Lucky, a year and a half old male bear, on a few occasions. Lucky is not sure how much interaction he wants with Meyote though she seems to be willing to spend time with him. The interplay between the two groups of bears is dynamic and changing as the younger bears grow in size. It is our hope and belief that the older and younger bears will socialize more with each other as the size and age differences diminish.

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