08/07/2026
𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐮𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!
Our two roly-poly, eight-month-old grizzly bear cubs need names! For a $5 minimum donation, fans can vote for their favorite pair of names for the sibling cubs. One hundred percent of proceeds from the naming campaign will support The Vital Ground Foundation's work to protect and restore North America’s wild grizzly bear populations.
Participants can donate any amount starting at $5 until Tues., Aug. 25, 2026. The name pair that raises the most funds will win! Fans can vote and make their donation at cmzoo.org/namethecubs.
CMZoo staff submitted name suggestions, and a small team representing departments across the Zoo selected the three name pairs below. We have one confident girl cub and one bashful boy cub. The three name pairs are listed with the female cub's name first and the male cub's name second.
Meadow and Forrest — inspired by the wild landscapes the cubs call home and the natural habitats where grizzly bears roam
Scout and Ranger — representing the people and organizations working to protect and preserve grizzlies and their native habitats
Aspen and Yarrow — highlighting the plants and vegetation found throughout grizzlies’ native habitats
“The cubs have been soaring through milestones, and we can't wait for them to reach the next one: being named,” Erika Furnes, senior animal keeper in Rocky Mountain Wild, says. “We are so excited to have the community involved in the naming process and grateful for their support of Vital Ground at the same time.”
The winning name will be announced at cmzoo.org/namethecubs, via an email to Zoo members and subscribers, and on the Zoo's social channels after Tues., Aug. 25, 2026.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Vital Ground is a nonprofit land trust whose mission is to protect and restore North America’s grizzly bear populations for future generations by conserving wildlife habitat and by supporting programs that reduce conflicts between bears and humans. Based in Missoula, Montana, CMZoo’s cubs’ home state, Vital Ground works throughout the Northern Rockies and Inland Northwest to create permanently connected landscapes that support the long-term survival of grizzly bears and the many native species that share their range. By connecting public land strongholds with protected private lands, Vital Ground is the only land trust focused on large-landscape conservation for the benefit of grizzly bears, other wildlife, and people. Founded in 1990, Vital Ground — together with many partners — has protected and enhanced over one million acres of grizzly bear habitat.
“Vital Ground is honored to have the support of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and its community,” says Ryan Lutey, Vital Ground’s executive director. “By joining in partnership to raise awareness of the challenges wild grizzly bears face, voters will help advance crucial efforts to protect key habitats and prevent conflicts for these grizzly cubs' wild cousins in the Northern Rockies.”
Happy voting — and thank you for supporting grizzly bear conservation!
𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐛𝐬
In June 2026, the two orphaned grizzly bear cubs arrived at CMZoo from Montana and became the first orphaned grizzlies at CMZoo in more than 20 years. The cubs are precious additions to the CMZoo family, but their backstory is a somber reminder of the challenges wild animals can face when they come into conflict with people. Their mother, an adult female grizzly, was euthanized after a long history of conflicts with humans and attractants. To help prevent similar conflicts and keep wild grizzly bears wild, CMZoo has selected Vital Ground to benefit from donations raised through votes for the cubs’ names.
The grizzly cub duo, now eight months old, recently received a clean bill of health, and moved from CMZoo’s quarantine space into their behind-the-scenes indoor/outdoor space in Rocky Mountain Wild, where they’ll continue to settle into their new surroundings. The cubs will not share space with current grizzly bear residents Emmett and Digger.
It will likely be several weeks before the cubs explore the main grizzly bear yards in guest view. CMZoo will share updates as soon as guests can visit the cubs in Rocky Mountain Wild.
