Black Bears

Ursus americanus

Maymont has two male black bears, both rescued, that inhabit a wooded area surrounding one of three old rock quarries. This quarry, between Raptor Valley and the Japanese Garden, provided some of the stone that was used in several of Maymont’s historical outbuildings. [map] The bears’ nicknames are Little Bear and Big Bear, due to the difference in their sizes. Their official names are Phoenix and Midnight.

Adopt a Bear

Meet Little Bear

The smaller bear, born in 2005, was found by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources in Roanoke. He was undernourished and had health problems. He came to live at Maymont as a yearling in 2006. Little Bear’s health issues include a form of dwarfism, which accounts for his smaller stature even though he is fully grown.

Meet Big Bear

The larger bear, also born in 2005, came to Maymont from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources in Madison County, Virginia, which had tried to relocate him several times after he repeatedly intruded on campsites and house trailers.

Keeper's Notes

The best time to see the bears is at about 10am when our keepers scatter apples, pears and carrots around their habitat to stimulate natural foraging behaviors. Another good time to see them is at 3:30pm when they are anticipating their late afternoon feeding and returning to their bedrooms/dens.

On hot summer days you may see Big Bear swimming in the pond.

The keepers use positive reinforcement, allowing the animals to voluntarily participate in their care, reinforcing behaviors such as stepping on a scale to be weighed, opening their mouths for medical checkups, and allowing us to give them medications orally or by injection.

They love special treats, called enrichment, which could be a box with their favorite foods like apples and honey, new or different items to smell like sheep's wool, or a Christmas tree to scratch and roll on after the holidays. These enrichments are designed to stimulate their natural instincts, curiosities and foraging behaviors.

Species Info

DIET

Bears are omnivores, eating roots, berries, flowers, acorns, fish, insects, mammals, and carrion (decaying animals).

SIZE

Females (sows): 90-250 lbs. Males (boars): 130-500 lbs. They average between 4-5 ft in length and 2-3 ft in height on all fours, 5-6 ft in height on two legs.

LIFESPAN

10-20 years in the wild; and up to 30 years in care settings

HABITAT & RANGE

Forests of North America

CONSERVATION STATUS

While many other bear species are in decline worldwide, black bear population numbers are relatively stable. Conservation work has been a success!

Quick Facts

Of the eight species of bears worldwide, three are found in the United States: polar bears, brown bears (including the grizzly) and black bears. only black bears, the smallest of the three, are native to Virginia.

In Virginia, bears don’t truly hibernate. They do become less active, sleeping more, and will utilize hollow logs, dead standing trees, rock cavities and even man-made structures like culvert pipes for denning sites.

Not all black bears are black. Their coats can vary from dark black, brown, and cinnamon to blonde, blue-gray, or white.

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources:

Bear | Virginia DWR

Explore

Virginia Wildlife Trail

The Robins Nature Center

Maymont Farm

Adopt These Animals!

Through a symbolic adoption, you help us care for our black bears and all the animals in Maymont’s care.