Annie and Flipper were brought to the Acadia Zoo in Trenton last July by Maine game wardens. Both cubs had become very friendly with dogs and used to relying on humans for food. An attempt at rehabilitating the animals and returning them to the wild failed, and the orphaned cubs would have been killed as nuisance animals had they not been taken in by the zoo.

The zoo is currently housing the bears in a small, circular cage built on a concrete pad covered with sawdust, a smallish 'pond,' some branches and a tire swing. At 150 pounds a growing rapidly, they will soon be in need of a larger, more natural habitat. The bears are also expensive to feed as they do not hibernate for the first couple years when in captivity. They also need plenty of creative play. A new habitat will not only provide much-needed living space for the bears, including a hibernation area, but will also feature a bigger pool that can be stocked with fish to 'hunt' for their supper. The zoo has a spot picked out with natural ledges and trees, but must raise approximately $45,000 to enclose the area with heavy-gauge metal wire and implement security measures required by law.

Annie and Flipper can be seen in their current habitat at the Acadia Zoo, located on Route 3 in Trenton. The zoo is open from 9:30 - 8:00 Monday - Saturday and 9:30 - 6:00 on Sunday. If you are able to help them reach their fund-raising goal, stop in or give them a call at 667-3244.