OSHKOSH, Wis., November 8, 2024 - The Menominee Park Zoo announces the arrival of its newest resident, Mr. Reeves, a young black bear from Alaska. Mr. Reeves is taking residence at the new Black Bear and Fox Exhibit.
The Zoo entertains and educates over 100,000 visitors during the May through September season and continues to grow and improve. The master plan for the Zoo is to reflect the native habitat of the North Highlands Forest. Currently, there are permanent exhibits for the wolf, elk, otter, eagle, fox, and the new black bear.
Zoo staff worked with several accredited organizations to find a bear needing relocation. Mr. Reeves is a playful, pudgy, and mischievous 107-pound black bear who will soon turn one year old. In Alaska, he was considered a nuisance bear, which means he lost his fear of humans and started to associate with people as suppliers of food. These bears can be dangerous to the public, and relocation was the best solution for this young Alaskan black bear.
The recently constructed bear exhibit has all the features a bear needs to thrive in captivity and call home. The new exhibit includes many enrichment elements, such as a water feature, hollowed logs, and a den.
Mr. Reeves will grow to be as much as 500 pounds and may live 30 years or more in captivity. His favorite foods are tender roots, vegetables, tubers, fish, berries, fruit, and nuts. Mr. Reeve’s personality is very engaging and we look forward to the public having the opportunity to get to know him. In anticipation of his popularity the Menominee Park Zoo has extended its season to be open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 2 pm, now through December 30, 2024. The Zoo will not be open on weekends or holidays. Admission is free. We thank Tom and Penny Harenburg for their continued support of the Zoo and the addition of the Bear and Fox Exhibit.
Questions about the new black bear and Menominee Park Zoo may directed to Chad Dallman, Assistant Parks Director, at (920)236-5080.