Cincinnati Zoo's Bear Ridge has its first residents after 2 orphaned bear cubs needed a home

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Zoo's Bear Ridge has its first residents after a wildlife rehabilitation center contacted the zoo about two orphaned black bears in need of a home.

The two bears are 7-month-old, female cubs that were deemed unable to be released back into the wild by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks . The Cincinnati Zoo said the wildlife rehabilitation center contacted them earlier this month, knowing the new exhibit was nearing completion.

"The Montana FWP works hard to promote coexistence with bears to minimize conflict and keep both humans and bears safe," said Kim Scott, the zoo's curator of mammals, in a press releae. "The goal is to avoid situations that result in orphaned bears, but that does happen in healthy wild bear populations and the orphans need homes. The FWP reach