Baylor’s Bill & Eva Williams Bear Habitat has offered over a century of care for some of the most beloved members of the Baylor family – our live American black bears. The following FAQ aims to answer your questions and provide some insight into how the Habitat is navigating an unprecedented time in the program’s history, adding two new cubs while caring for a third adult bear across two full-time and fully staffed facilities.
Three!
Belle and Indy joined the Baylor Family in May 2023 and reside full-time in the Bill & Eva Williams Bear Habitat.
Lady graduated with the Spring 2023 graduates and made a permanent, August 2023 move to a newly constructed, private auxiliary facility, where she remains under the full care and attention of the Habitat’s caregivers and veterinary team.
After two decades with Joy and Lady, the Bear Habitat faces some unique challenges with caring for both a geriatric bear in her golden years while also raising cubs who are in the earliest stages of their development – and all the energy and mischievous behavior that comes with that. Physically, the Habitat was reinforced with “cub-proofing,” including adding additional barriers and awnings to the outdoor public exhibit area and keeping things like electrical components and water lines out of reach of little, curious paws. The caregivers in the Bear Habitat received additional training to help the cubs acclimate to receiving regular training and human care and attention.
Absolutely! Maintained by Baylor full-time staffers assisted by student leaders in the Baylor Chamber of Commerce, the Bear Habitat staff has doubled its leadership structure as there are two full teams needed to care for two full-time facilities (on-campus and auxiliary), along with adding a graduate assistant position to help bolster oversight and the depth of the caregiver team. Cubs present unique challenges that require particular skills and personalities to provide the best possible care for the little ones. The Bear Habitat team will continue to diligently care for each and every bear in our program from their first day to their last.
Just like human toddlers, Indy and Belle can be sporadic and unpredictable at times. As they continue to grow and learn more consistent routines, the Bear Habitat team will work on a general on-habitat/off-habitat schedule that will be communicated through the Bear Habitat social media channels and website. That schedule will always be subject to change to unforeseen circumstances, like severe weather.
No, for a number of reasons. Most importantly we must ensure the safety of the cubs and Lady. When the cubs arrived to campus, Lady outweighed them by over 200 pounds. The risk to the cubs, Lady and the caregivers is far too great to safely introduce them at this time. Black bears are solitary animals so unless they are living with another bear whom they’ve grown up with, they do not need or necessarily appreciate additional bear company.
No, the cubs will be receiving the same world-class care and attention that are expected of facilities that earn AZA and USDA accreditation as the top zoological caregivers in the world. As the Bear Habitat has grown and evolved over the years, so have our standards and practices to give the bears their best life possible here in Waco. The cubs will be cared for in the Bill & Eva Williams Bear Habitat, 24/7, 365 days a year, including times of inclement weather and over the holidays.
No, for a number of reasons. Since 2003, in accordance with USDA restrictions, the Bear Habitat has discontinued the practice of taking the bears to football games. Loud noise from crowds, fireworks and other commotions associated with Saturday football game days would place tremendous stress on the bears. The Bear Habitat offers a sanctuary of familiar sights, sounds and smells that keep the bears comfortable and mitigates stress.
Similar to a human baby, bear cubs are noisy and needy. You can expect to hear lots of noises – like crying when hungry – when the cubs are on campus. The current best practice care recommendation is to bottle feed the cubs for up to the first two years. Note that the cubs will already be well over 100 pounds at that age! Patience will be required and growing pains will be real, but the Baylor Family will be able to enjoy following the cubs’ growth in other ways during this exciting time.
Our program is expanding, in every sense. We are welcoming cubs, building additional features and educational opportunities to the physical habitat and ensuring the highest level of care for our bears at both the on-campus and auxiliary facilities. This tremendous responsibility carries a high financial commitment – one that would not be possible without the generosity of the Baylor Family. Click the gold banner in the top right corner of this page for more information about how to donate to the Bear Habitat and continue the legacy of this important Baylor tradition, and the conservation and education opportunities our bear program provides.
Bill & Eva Williams Habitat
M.P. Daniel Esplanade
Waco, TX 76706
Baylor Chamber of Commerce
Bill Daniel Student Center (SUB) basement
1311 S. 5th Street, Waco TX 76706
One Bear Place #97185
Waco, TX 76798
Accredited and Licensed by
