Grizzlies arrive at the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky

Are we there yet? A momma grizzly and her cubs, having been cited for being nuisance bears, were trapped by CSKT Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation and sent across the country to the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky. Most nuisance bears - bears that get into garbage cans, homes, animal food or harass livestock or are aggressive to humans - aren't so lucky and may be put down if deemed dangerous. For this ursa family, a polar bear neighbor and thousands of zoo goers await them. (courtesy photo)

LOUISVILLE, KY — The Louisville Zoo has once again assisted in animal rescue efforts when it brought a mother grizzly bear and her two cubs (one male and one female) to Louisville from Polson, Montana earlier this month. The bears are currently completing a period of quarantine in an off-exhibit area and will eventually take up residence in the new Glacier Run Bear Habitat, which is scheduled to open this coming spring.

The animals had been identified and trapped as “nuisance bears” by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes - Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation and faced an uncertain future unless a home for them could be found in a zoo or other wildlife facility. As it happened the Louisville Zoo had been looking for a species of brown bear to inhabit Glacier Run in addition to polar bears.

Louisville Zoo Director John Walczak said he’s happy that the Zoo could help. “The agencies responsible for managing grizzlies in the wild often have the difficult challenge of balancing conservation and interactions between bears and the public, agriculture and industry,” Walczak said. “This is a great opportunity for us to assist them in their efforts and to bring a new bear species to the Zoo that will enhance the thematic message of Glacier Run. “Due to global climate change and the early thawing of polar ice, polar bears are being forced to migrate inland,” Walczak continued. “This means their range now crosses over with certain brown bear species. In fact, in 2007 there was a confirmed discovery of a hybrid polar bear, brown bear.”

They look adorable now, but as adults who are used to rifling through your garbage, they can take your head right off. Here they await going to the zoo...as residents. (courtesy photo)

According to Zoo General Curator Steve Wing the bears are adapting well to their new environment. “Mom is calm and attentive and is quickly building trust with her keepers. The female cub is bold and adventurous, while the male cub is a bit more cautious,” Wing said. The grizzlies will likely remain off exhibit until the spring opening of the Glacier Run Village and Bear Habitat. The grizzlies and the polar bears will be exhibited separately.

A “nuisance grizzly bear” is defined as a grizzly bear that depredates livestock, causes property damage, or uses unnatural food that has been reasonably secured from the grizzly bear; or, a grizzly bear that displays unnatural aggression toward humans or that constitutes a demonstrable immediate, or potential threat to human safety.

The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).