Lincoln Park Zoo welcomes brown bears for the first time in nearly 50 years

Two more bears are ready to make Chicago their home but this time not at Soldier Field.

Lincoln Park Zoo welcomed two female brown bears, Ash and Lexi, who made their debut Monday after coming to Chicago from Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin. The bears, who are aunt and niece but commonly mistaken for sisters, are both adults, though their exact age is unknown.

They were taken from the wild as cubs but designated “unreleasable” by officials at Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks after learning to raid trash cans and becoming dependent on human food.

“Ash and Lexi’s story is an inspiring one that reminds us of the important role accredited zoos can play in the lives of rescued animals that can’t return to the wild for their own safety,” said Cassy Kutilek, Lincoln Park Zoo curator, in