Big Bear Alpine Zoo

History

In 1959, a forest fire engulfed the San Bernardino National Forest. In the aftermath, several injured animals were found who required care. A makeshift hospital/rehabilitation area was set up on land where the Zoo currently resides. A orphaned 30 pound baby black bear and two bobcats were the first residents of the future Zoo. The facility is owned and operated by Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District, a County of of San Bernardino Special Distrcit. In 2012, Moonridge Animal Park changed its name to Big Bear Alpine Zoo. Today the zoo is home to several alpine species of animals, all too injured or impacted to survive on their own. BBAZ is one of two zoos in the United States that has Grizzly Bears. On November 5th, 2020, the Big Bear Alpine Zoo opens it doors to the new facility.

Specialties

The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a rehabilitation facility offering injured, orphaned and imprinted wild animals a safe haven; temporarily while they heal or permanently as they are unable to survive on their own. We are extremely proud that 90% of all the animals brought to us for rehabilitation are successfully released back into their native environment. Those that remain with us on exhibit are either too injured or have been imprinted by humans and can not be released back into the wild to care for themselves.