During the entire month of November, the Minnesota Zoo​ will be sharing stories of the many rescued and rehabilitated animals that we care for. All of our animals receive amazing care from zoo staff, volunteers and community members. All of this work is made possible because of YOUR amazing support – thank you! Check back daily as we feature a new story from around the Zoo.

Our award-winning Russia’s Grizzly Coast is home to several incredible species from the Russian Far East, including three very charismatic brown bears.”Haines,” “Kenai” and “Sadie” are a few of the Zoo’s most popular animals to visit and learn about, but they didn’t have the easiest start to their lives. All three bears were found separately orphaned in Alaska in the summer/fall of 2006. “Sadie” was the first to be rescued near a landfill not too far from the Sadie Creek; “Haines” was found roaming porches in the small town of Haines; and “Kenai” was found along the coast of  the Kenai Peninsula…and you can see how they got their names. All three were taken to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) for initial care and then eventually made the trip to the their new home at the Minnesota Zoo in 2008.

Now these three bears have found a home that’s just right, with daily care from their zookeepers – including enrichment and training sessions. They are even given the opportunity to express their creative side with paint from time to time. When guests come to visit them, they will notice the bears’ habitat is always changing with new logs, dig pits and sometimes even live fish. This is all to help keep the bears mentally and physically strong.

Did you Know? Brown bears and polar bears are tied as the world’s largest land-dwelling carnivores. In America, we commonly call them grizzlies. In Russia, they’re all called “burii medved.”

You can visit “Haines,” “Kenai” and “Sadie,” along with all of the other amazing animals here at the Zoo, year round with a Minnesota Zoo annual membership. Just by becoming a Zoo member and visiting the Zoo you are helping to save wildlife around the world.