Orphaned at only 9 months of age in the midst of a cold Montana winter, Miss Montana and her sister, Miss America, were rescued unharmed and brought to Wildlife Waystation in 1995. As young cubs, Miss Montana and Miss America were too young to survive on their own, and Montana Fish & Game asked Wildlife Waystation to care for them. The two grizzlies now share a deluxe enclosure, fully equipped with a bear den, swimming pool and play toys.

Miss Montana has an animated, outgoing personality, but is usually less assertive than Miss America. She and her sister revel in human attention and constantly compete for star status when people are around. They remain close companions and can be frequently found happily chasing one another. When it comes to snacks, both Miss Montana and Miss America prefer breakfast cereals, raisins and pasta. Their summertime favorite is whole fish frozen in ice blocks; both enjoy a quick ice skate around the pool with them before they are consumed as fine gourmet grizzly snacks.

Miss Montana & Miss Montana

As high profile residents of Wildlife Waystation, Miss Montana and Miss America are playful reminders about the importance of coexisting with wildlife and protecting grizzly bears.

The terms “grizzly bear” and “brown bear” are often used interchangeably; both refer to the same species, which is a member of the Ursidae family. With the average adult male weighing between 350 and 700 pounds, grizzly bears are the largest North American land carnivore. Of all species of bear in the world, the grizzly has the most extensive geographic range. Localized populations of grizzly bears exist in Eastern & Western Europe, Northern Asia, and the northwestern regions of North America, including the Northwestern U.S. Grizzly bears are now on the endangered species list. Their populations have decreased primarily due to the loss of habitat. Some biologists suggest that the intelligence level of the grizzly bear can be equated with the intelligence level of primates. They have excellent hearing and eyesight, along with a superior sense of smell.