A NOTABLE SUCCESS IN THE BREEDING OF 

 BLACK BEARS 



By ARTHUR B. BAKER 



It is well known to these familiar with collections of wild animals 

 in zoological gardens and parks that bears in such places seldom 

 produce young, and that to rear the cubs is still more unusual ; so 

 that it is generally conceded that the conditions incident to captivity 

 almost preclude successful propagation. It is therefore worthy of 

 notice that in a private park near Akron, Ohio, a pair of black bears 

 has regularly bred and raised cubs during the last twelve years. 



A little more than twenty years ago, Mr. R. H. Lodge established 

 a picnic park along the shore of little " Silver Lake," at Cuyahoga 

 Falls, near Akron, Ohio, operating it for several years by himself, 

 and later with his son, Mr. W. R. Lodge. From the outset a small 

 collection of North American animals was one of its features, and 

 this was increased from time to time. In 1888 a pair of black bears 

 was added. The female, captured on the north shore of Lake 

 Superior, was received in July when about six months old, and a 

 male of the same age was obtained shortly afterward from central 

 Michigan. The two grew up together and when too old to be 

 safely handled were placed in a brick pit built for their use. Here 

 they have since lived (August, 1903), and that they have thriven 

 during the fifteen years of captivity is apparent from the accom- 

 panying illustration (plate li), which shows the two old bears and 

 their three seven-months-old cubs. 



The first cub was born toward the end of January, 1892, when 

 the parents were four years old. The male was then seen at the 

 entrance to the den with a dead cub in his mouth, but a prompt and 

 careful examination of the premises failed to discover any others. 

 With the exception of three years, when conditions were unfavorable, 

 this pair of bears has since produced young each year, the record 

 of births being as follows : 



1892, January 23. One male cub, found dead. 



1893, January 24. Two males and one female. 



1894, No cubs born, owing to young of previous year having run 



with the mother throughout the summer. 



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