August 25, 2025

The old guard has left us with the passing of Mimi, our beloved 21-year-old American black bear. Late last week Mimi’s health began to change, and, despite added medicines and supportive care, the end came quickly.

Mimi was affectionately known as our “water bear.” She could almost always be found near the bear pool, taking slow, peaceful swims, carefully plucking watermelons or pumpkins from the shoreline, or basking beneath the rush of the waterfall. Her joy in these simple moments was unmistakable (if we were to anthropomorphize), and in the spring and summer months, her golden “highlights,” as staff fondly called them, made her easy to spot in the sunshine.

Mimi’s early years were unsettled, moving from place to place, even someone’s backyard, before finding her way to Appalachian Bear Rescue. By then, she was too old to be released back to the wild. In 2006, she arrived at the Museum of Life and Science, where she found her forever home.

Like all our bears, Mimi had plenty of attitude. Many knew her as persnickety, often gathering watermelons and carrying them far away to enjoy in solitude, or doing her best to avoid the younger bears. But those who knew her well saw her mellow side, too. Lead Animal Care Specialist Shayna remembers, “Most of the time Mimi was just calm, and I’ll miss her smile when she would sit with her paws crossed like a very polite bear.

“One of my favorite memories is how, anytime I gave the bears bubbles for enrichment, Mimi would come from anywhere in the yard to sit and watch them float by, gently popping the ones that drifted close to her nose. She was a good bear and a wonderful ambassador, helping guests understand the importance of coexisting with wildlife and letting wild things stay wild.”

But Mimi was more than a grumpy elder or a quiet presence. For all the times she sought privacy, there were just as many when she leaned into her role as matriarch. She helped raise Gus, teaching him the skills he would need to become the “Mama Gus” so many came to love. Mimi had only been at the Museum for six months when Gus arrived as a young cub, and she stepped naturally into the role of surrogate mother. We will always be grateful for the gift she gave in shaping him into the extraordinary bear he became.

Mimi was a steadying presence in Explore the Wild, so it feels only right that she passed peacefully, sleeping beneath the stars. Mimi lived a long and full life, but for those who loved her, it will never feel long enough.