There are baby bears in Hershey. Please remain calm.

There is a very specific kind of excitement that comes with baby animal news. It begins with a perfectly reasonable, “Aww, how sweet,” and escalates approximately three seconds later into planning a family outing, assigning everyone a favorite cub, and wondering whether ZooAmerica would notice if you simply moved into the Eastern Woodlands habitat.

So let us begin with the announcement currently threatening every productive thought in my head: ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park has welcomed two five-month-old American black bear cubs named Briar and Bramble.

The male and female siblings were orphaned in Montana and arrived in Hershey through the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks after wildlife officials determined that they could not be released back into the wild.

In other words, this is not quite a “load the kids into the macVAN immediately” announcement. It is more of a “follow ZooAmerica obsessively and prepare to make an enormous deal out of their debut next year” announcement.

But wait...there are even more new neighbors

The bear cubs may have arrived with enough star power to consume the entire spotlight, but they are not the only new residents joining the ZooAmerica family. Nine black-tailed prairie dogs have arrived, and a second-generation ringtail kit was born this summer.

The prairie dogs return to ZooAmerica history

Guests can currently look for the new colony of nine black-tailed prairie dogs in the Big Sky Country region.

There is one small catch: prairie dogs have apparently mastered the same summer strategy as the rest of us. When it gets hot, they may retreat into their burrows and refuse to participate in outside activities.

A second generation of ZooAmerica ringtails

The male ringtail kit was born to Periwinkle and Remington and represents the second generation of ZooAmerica-born ringtails.

The birth is an important success for the Ringtail Species Survival Plan and an especially meaningful milestone because Periwinkle was also born at ZooAmerica. The kit is still growing behind the scenes and is not currently visible to guests.

A baby, a colony, and a century-old connection

There is something beautifully full-circle about these arrivals. The ringtail kit continues a family line born at ZooAmerica, while the prairie dogs reach all the way back to the zoo’s beginning.

Prairie dogs were the first species Milton S. Hershey introduced to his zoo more than a century ago. Today, a brand-new colony is settling into Big Sky Country while another generation of ZooAmerica animals begins behind the scenes.

The story of a zoo is written in generations: the animals cared for, the species protected, the children who press their noses to the glass, and the children who grow up and eventually bring children of their own. These newest arrivals are tiny chapters now, but they are already part of a story ZooAmerica has been telling for more than 100 years.

Planning a ZooAmerica visit

The Macaroni KID take

Briar and Bramble’s arrival gives local families something special to anticipate in 2027, but their story is already worth following. These two cubs did not get the beginning anyone would have chosen for them. Now they have a safe place to grow, a sibling beside them, an experienced team caring for them, and an important future helping people understand their species.

For now, we will be cheering from a respectful distance, looking for prairie dog heads popping out of the ground, and waiting for the day two small bears step into their public habitat and officially meet Hershey.

ZooAmerica Welcomes Orphaned Black Bear Cubs Briar and Bramble

Other New Arrivals Include a Multigenerational Ringtail Kit and Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs

HERSHEY, PA (July 14, 2026) – ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, an 11-acre zoo in Hershey, Pa., today announced the arrival of its newest residents: two five-month-old American black bear cubs. Named Briar and Bramble, the orphaned male and female siblings arrived in Hershey via the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks after being deemed non-releasable.

The pair is currently acclimating behind the scenes, where they will mature and eventually integrate with the zoo’s resident bear, Chief, before their public habitat debut in the Eastern Woodlands region in 2027.

“Beyond their charm, Briar and Bramble serve as ambassadors for their species, helping us educate our visitors on how to coexist responsibly with bears,” stated Theresa Wilson, Director of ZooAmerica. “We look forward to sharing their progress on our social media channels as they settle into their new home.”

The bears are two of several new additions at ZooAmerica, including the arrival of nine black-tailed prairie dogs and the birth of a ringtail kit this summer. Born to parents Periwinkle and Remington, the male kit represents a second generation of ZooAmerica-born ringtails and signifies a key conservation success for the Ringtail Species Survival Plan.

Wilson noted the significance of the arrivals, stating, “This ringtail birth is deeply sentimental since the mother was also born here at ZooAmerica. Similarly, prairie dogs connect us to our history, as they were the first species our founder, Milton S. Hershey, introduced to his zoo over a century ago. We are proud to continue that legacy.”

Guests can currently see the prairie dog colony in the Big Sky Country area, though they often hide inside their burrows when it is hot. The ringtail kit is off-habitat as it continues to grow.

ZooAmerica is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sept. 6 and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 7. Regular admission for guests ages 9–61 is $16.50 plus taxes and fees. Admission for juniors ages 3–8 and seniors ages 62 and older is $14.50 plus taxes and fees, while children 2 and under are admitted for free.

ZooAmerica is also included in the one-price admission to Hersheypark as one of three parks in one when accessed from the bridge inside the amusement park during posted hours.

Follow the cubs and plan your visit

Visit ZooAmerica for current hours and admission information, then follow along on social media as Briar and Bramble grow into their very important new roles.

Hours, admission prices, animal visibility, and operating details may change. Check directly with ZooAmerica before visiting.