This footage was filmed and produced 21 March 2024.

Timber and Thorn, the endearing black bear cubs residing at the Oregon Zoo, are captivating visitors as they embrace their natural instincts by scaling the towering Douglas Fir trees within their habitat. As temperatures rise, the playful duo ventures to the tree summits to indulge in the succulent new growth.

Jen Osburn Eliot, overseeing the zoo's Great Northwest area, expressed awe at the cubs' climbing prowess, noting that visitors often spot them from afar even before entering the zoo premises. Found separately in Alaska, both cubs were rescued and nurtured by state wildlife officials at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage before finding sanctuary in Portland last December.

"Black bears are renowned climbers," remarked Osburn Eliot, highlighting the cubs' adaptation to their habitat. Named in homage to their forest origins and Portland's soccer teams, Timber and Thorn are gradually acclimating to their surroundings and will eventually mingle with the zoo's adult bears, Cubby and Dale.

For eager spectators, Osburn Eliot recommends looking skyward, especially for Thorn, the more daring of the two cubs. The resurgence of black bear populations, once dwindling due to habitat loss, offers hope, with reports indicating a 60% increase in numbers across U.S. and Canadian states and provinces in recent years, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature.