North American Bear Center

06/07/2026

We are so happy to introduce you all to our new ambassador, Godzilla! 😊🎉

Thank you to everyone who voted and took part in our naming contest!

Godzilla is a blue-spotted salamander who will serve as an educational ambassador at the North American Bear Center and help us in teaching thousands of people each year about the often secretive life of salamanders. Godzilla is currently acclimating in our Hope Learning Center before being introduced to our visitors and is under the care of our small animal team!

📸Godzilla by staff member Macy
**p **ps **ping **patology

06/06/2026

06/06/2026

Happy National Black Bear Day from Lucky, Holly, and Tasha! 🐻

Looking for a way to support our bears on their special day? Consider making a donation from our Amazon wishlist! We could REALLY use some dried cranberries and pecans!! Link below. Thank you for all of your support!

Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/182N6D1EP5DVM

📸by Nick Angus Photography

06/06/2026

Join us for a special LIVE event tomorrow- meet our 2026 summer interns! 🎉

Tune in live on Saturday, June 6th at 12:30pm CST on our Facebook!

06/05/2026

Ely Northwoods Live

06/05/2026

2026 bear interns tried their luck against NABC tug-of-war champion, Holly 🐻👑

In this short clip, interns Ella and Victoria paired up to offer Holly some physical enrichment- and one of her favorite ways to engage with the staff! While it may look pretty simple, this activity benefits both groups; Holly is able to physically engage with her surroundings in a way that is enriching, as this activity is not done daily, and our interns get a glimpse into just how strong and powerful black bears are- just one simple jerk of Holly's head, and our interns had lost the battle! 😆

📸Interns Ella, Victoria, and our queen Holly. By staff member Macy

06/05/2026

It's been awhile but Sharon's Bear News is back!!! Our senior bear keeper does an update about our three ambassador bears, wild bear seasonal changes, and ongoings in the Ely area every two weeks. We will post the link on our Facebook/Instagram; the link is below. Check in every other Friday morning to see what's going on with our bears, wild bears, and Ely MN!

We appreciate all of our supporters and fans. Thanks for your continued support, it truly means the world to us!

1st Bear News of 2026 link ---> https://bear.org/bear-news-june-2026/

📷 of Lucky Bear captured by NABC staff.

06/04/2026

NEW AMBASSADOR ANIMAL ALERT!! Help us give him a name!! 🎉

Meet our blue-spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale) found by new staff member, Signe! But we need your help! Our new critter needs a name! Please vote on a name below- voting ends on Saturday, June 6th at 8am CST.

1: Sprout
2: Pebble
3: Houdini
4: Godzilla

📸Signe and blue-spotted salamander. Salamander pic by 2026 bear intern Ella!
**p **ps **ping **patology

06/04/2026

Because let's face it, you deserve it 😉 Shop this and other items at the North American Bear Center gift store, linked below!

NABC gift store: https://store.bear.org/

06/03/2026

Bears in North America: Massachusetts! 🐻

After being nearly extirpated from the state in the mid-1800s following significant habitat loss and unregulated take, with only a small population left to be found in the Berkshires, bears are now doing quite well. An estimated 4,500 black bears can be found in Massachusetts, with a population and range that is considered to be increasing.

📸Lucky by Nick Angus Photography