Mildred the Bear

Mildred the Bear greeted guests at Grandfather Mountain for 25 years. She was known around the world for her gentle love for humans, and her impact can still be seen on the mountain today.

Early Life

Mildred the Bear was born on Feb. 7, 1966, at the Atlanta Zoo. Raised in captivity and treated like an office pet, she was bottle-fed and comfortable with humans.

In 1968, Mildred and a male bear from the Atlanta Zoo were brought to Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina by the Wildlife Commission. The goal was to release them into the wild to help increase the dwindling population of black bears in the state. However, this attempt to release the bears proved unsuccessful. While the male bear took off into the wild, Mildred followed visitors down the mountain into neighboring communities and caused a stir by frightening golfers, visitors, residents and pets alike. Arthur Smith — musician, producer and TV and radio host — was on the mountain that day and saw it himself. His brother, Ralph Smith, gave Mildred her name.

Rather than sending her back into the wild, staff at Grandfather Mountain decided to let Mildred roam freely on the property as the first animal resident of the mountain. She climbed to the top of Sphinx Rock and stepped onto the Mile High Swinging Bridge, which she immediately disliked. She was given a den with straw and leaves, as well as her own bathtub fed by a spring on the mountain. In 1973, a bear habitat was built for her, marking the beginning of Grandfather’s Environmental Habitats. During the day, Mildred posed for photos with visitors. As Mildred familiarized herself with her surroundings, the stage was set for her to become one of the most famous bears in the world.

Cubs

Mildred’s role as a mother began when she gave birth to her first set of cubs, twin girls named Mini and Maxi. Unlike wild bears, she allowed visitors to get close to her cubs without showing aggression. The only aggression she had was toward other animals.

Mildred’s nurturing instinct extended beyond her own nine cubs. She adopted three orphaned cubs over the years, including Punkin, who was introduced to Mildred when she was just a few days old, before her eyes had even opened. Punkin accepted Mildred as her mother, and Mildred raised her alongside her biological cubs. Mildred’s acceptance of orphaned cubs sealed her reputation as an extraordinary mother.

Human Interactions

Throughout her time at Grandfather Mountain, Mildred developed a special bond with staff and visitors, particularly when they let her snack on Fig Newtons or grape soda. She became known for her gentle nature, even saving her keeper’s life when her mate, a former bear boxing star, began to maul the keeper. She swatted at her mate and forced him to back down, showing her loyalty to humans. In fact, she was often described as “a bear who didn’t know she was a bear.”

For Mildred’s 25th birthday, staff at the Nature Museum baked her a large white cake to celebrate her remarkable lifespan — most bears live less than five years in the wild. She was never one to pass up a sweet treat, so she devoured it quickly.

Mildred was also known for her frequent picnics with her best friend, Hugh Morton, founder of Grandfather Mountain and renowned photographer. These interactions, along with her constant presence on the mountain, made her a favorite among tourists, many of whom visited just to see her.

Mildred’s Legacy

Mildred’s legacy extends far beyond Grandfather Mountain. She became one of the most photographed black bears in the world, appearing in books, postcards and even National Geographic’s “Baby Bears and How They Grow.” Her image was captured in artwork by well-known artists such as Ray Harm and Richard Evans Younger. Sculptor Johnpaul Harris created a statue of Mildred and her cubs that still stands in the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, and one of the bronze cubs earned a kiss from the real Mildred herself when it was placed in her habitat.

Her impact on wildlife education was significant. She was featured in two of the U.S. Forest Service’s most popular brochures, “How to Live With Black Bears” and “Watchable Wildlife: The Black Bear,” helping to spread awareness about bear conservation and coexistence.

Mildred lived a full life, bringing joy and education to millions of visitors over her 26 years. She died in her sleep on Jan. 1, 1993, in her den at Grandfather Mountain. In recognition of her contributions, Dr. Lynn Rogers, an expert on black bears, noted that Mildred’s death was met with more widespread sadness than the death of Smokey Bear a few years earlier. “Mildred may have been the most photographed black bear in the world,” he remarked. “I don’t think people realize how often they see Mildred on TV, postcards, murals, and in magazines and books.”

At Grandfather, beyond her statue in the Wilson Center, Mildred’s legacy lives on as the namesake of Mildred’s Grill, the park’s restaurant, where a giant photograph of her hangs over the kitchen area. Since she was the first animal resident, all of the animal habitats are called the Mildred the Bear Environmental Habitats. Her image also continues to serve as the park’s mascot today. “The gentle symbol of Grandfather,” as she was memorialized by the Charlotte Observer, left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire us on the mountain.