Monrovia Bear Cubs Reach Major Milestone at San Diego Humane Society

RAMONA, CA — Two orphaned black bear cubs from Monrovia just hit a big milestone. Today, the brothers officially moved into an outdoor habitat at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center.

The bears are now in a specialized den area, built thanks to a grant from the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation, that’s been decorated with live edge wood from a local sawmill in Ramona. As soon as they acclimate, the cubs will be introduced to a larger habitat with continued access to the den.

The cubs arrived on March 15, 2026. Their mother was humanely euthanized by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) after two public safety incidents in Monrovia. Since then, San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife team has provided the brothers specialized care with the goal of releasing them back to the wild when they are old enough.

They were two to three months old when they arrived. To keep them wild, staff limited human contact. When interactions were necessary for feeding, caretakers would wear bear masks and animal furs rubbed in natural scents to hide their human smell. They would crawl into the habitat to mimic how mother bear would act. Project Wildlife’s team also added native plants like mulberry and pine to their habitat to mimic nature and encourage the cubs to explore.

The cubs are now about four months old and growing fast. They are becoming more independent and learning to exhibit natural behaviors they need to survive in the wild.

“Moving outside is a big step,” said Autumn Welch, Wildlife Operations Manager at San Diego Humane Society. “The cubs are gaining confidence, exploring and learning the skills they’ll need to survive on their own.”

Their diet is also changing. Staff started by spoon feeding them formula, but now they eat gruel and solid food. They love fruit and leaves from native plants. They eat three times a day and are increasingly feeding on their own as they grow stronger and more independent.

The organization is asking for public support to help fund the extensive resources required for the bears’ care. To support the Monrovia bear cubs, please visit sdhumane.org/monroviabears.