RELEASE: Museum of Life and Science welcomes American black bear cub
May 5, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 5, 2026
Media Contact:
Ro Rode, Director of Marketing and Communications
(561) 596-1410
ro.rode@lifeandscience.org
Durham, NC — The Museum of Life and Science today announced the arrival of a one-year-old male American black bear cub to its Explore the Wild: Black Bears habitat. The 115-pound cub joins the Museum’s two adult black bears, Little (5) and Murray (3).
Montana wildlife officials found the cub abandoned in December 2025 and determined him to be at certain risk of death over winter. Those officials then contacted the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), of which the Museum is a proud member, who reached out to the Museum to give him a home, thus ensuring his long-term wellbeing.
To honor his native habitat and those wildlife officials who rescued him, the Animal Care Team has chosen to name the cub “Montana.” FedEx generously provided in-kind shipping to transport Montana and a presiding veterinarian to Raleigh-Durham International Airport as part of the company’s FedEx Cares Delivering for Good initiative.
“We are so appreciative of our partners at Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, AZA, and FedEx,” Senior Director of Animal Care Sherry Samuels said. “The care and speed in which so many came together to make sure this cub was cared for is a testament to the amazing things that happen when people come together for a common good.”
Having completed his quarantine period and initial introduction to the Museum’s two adult bears, the cub is ready to explore the Museum’s black bear habitat. The adjustment process for any animal can be lengthy, but visitors might get a glimpse of the new bear this spring and summer as he learns and settles into the space.
“We’re excited to provide a home for another black bear cub,” Samuels said. “Montana is the third cub in the last five years that needed a forever home; the Museum is honored to provide a space for this animal to have the best quality of life.”
The Museum of Life and Science has a long-standing commitment to wildlife conservation and education, and the introduction of the new bear cub aligns with this mission. The bear habitat in Explore the Wild provides a unique opportunity for visitors to witness the natural behaviors and social dynamics of these native creatures, reinforcing the importance of conservation efforts.
Museum guests can visit the resident black bears and all the other animals and exhibits during regular operating hours, Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am until 5 pm (9 am for Members). For tickets and more information, visit lifeandscience.org.
About the Museum of Life and Science
Located less than five miles from downtown Durham, the Museum of Life and Science is one of North Carolina’s top family destinations. Our 84-acre campus includes a two-story science center, one of the largest butterfly conservatories on the East Coast, and beautifully landscaped outdoor exhibits. Our interactive experiences include Dinosaur Trail, Ellerbe Creek Railway, Hideaway Woods, Into the Mist, Earth Moves, and Aerospace, which features one of the largest collections of Apollo-era NASA artifacts in the state. The Museum is also an AZA-accredited zoo, home to rescued black bears, lemurs, endangered Red Wolves, and more than 60 species of live animals. For more than 80 years, the Museum has upheld its ongoing commitment to the communities of Durham, the Triangle, and North Carolina through programming, engagement, and research. To learn more, visit lifeandscience.org.
