Here come the Bears!
Baylor announced the addition of two American black bear cubs to the AZA-accredited Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat. The cubs, named Judge Indy and Judge Belle, will join the Baylor Family in the on-campus habitat as early as mid-summer.
The rescue cubs were identified through a network of external consultants, finding the perfect fit with these two American black bears in need of a home from a wildlife park in Idaho.
After a lengthy observational period with the Bear Habitat’s external bear consultant and evaluation by the Habitat’s veterinary team, the cubs were deemed an ideal fit for the unique operational nature and mission of the Baylor Bear Habitat, officially entering the University’s care in early May.
Judge Indy
The largest cub from her litter, Indy will likely be easy to identify throughout her lifetime as the larger of the two bears. Naturally, she has taken the more dominant role and was immediately observed as being the more independent of the pair. In the Baylor Family, Indy calls to mind the birthplace of Baylor University in Independence, Texas, some 100 miles from the heart of the Waco campus. This historic site and the four remaining columns from early Baylor life serve as a gathering point for new students who are learning about Baylor’s mission and traditions through Baylor Line Camp.
Judge Belle
Small in stature with a big personality, Belle was the smallest cub from her litter. Belle is named as an ode to the McLane Carillon bells — housed in the iconic tower of Pat Neff Hall — whose chimes across campus have provided the soundtrack for thousands of students who have called Baylor home. Similar to the chimes from the carillon tower, Belle has been known to make her own vocal music, often signaling her feelings around feeding and play times with loud squawks and chirps.