After Two Decades, Bear Mountain Zoo Says Goodbye to Its Beloved Black Bear

Trailside Museums and Zoo  Announce The Death of 20-Year-Old Bear

A longtime resident at the Trailside Museums and Zoo at Bear Mountain State Park has passed away.

The zoo took to social media to share the heartbreaking news. In a statement they write:

With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Pal, our 20-year-old male black bear, on October 9, 2025, following an illness that led to a rapid decline in his health

After speaking with their veterinarian they made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize, Pal.

While they didn't give any details about what Pal was suffering from, they shared that Trailside's vet Dr. Linda Atkins, from Valley Cottage Animal Hospital, worked with Pal "through all his health challenges."

Trailside adds "We are grateful for her dedication and expertise in keeping our animals healthy. "

Additionally, the zoo let the public know that a postmortem exam will be performed at the Cornell University Diagnostic Center, which is standard procedure, so they can better understand what caused Pal's decline.

Bear Mountain Zoo Heartbroken Over the Loss of Longtime Resident

In the statement shared to social media, you can tell just how much Pal meant to the staff at the Bear Mountain Zoo.

"Though big and strong, Pal was known for his gentle demeanor, both with his keepers and the other animals he lived alongside" the staff at the Bear Mountain Zoo writes.

They revisit memories of Pal when he was younger and share stories about how cautious he was letting his sister Sadie try things out first.

READ MORE: New York Zoo Says Goodbye to Beloved Bear: Sadie

Sadie made Pal pay the price. When they were 2 years old she pushed him in the pool for his first swim. Sadly, Sadie passed away in April 2025.

Pal loved "snoozing in the sun" and would use anything as a pillow including logs, burlap sack or...his sister.

As he got older Pal started to face several health challenges suffering from arthritis and alopecia. However, "thanks to his hearty appetite" the animal care team was able to feed him his medication that made sure his senior years were comfortable.

Black Bear Exhibit on Pause at Bear Mountain State Park

In the statement the Trailside Museum explains that the Black Bear exhibit was originally built in the 1950s.

They realize, as they say, they "can't be Bear Mountain's Zoo without bears" but it's time for some updates.

With that being said they explain they are "pausing before adding new black bears to Trailside." They detail further writing:

We are re-examining and re-thinking the current exhibit to make necessary changes that will allow new bears to continue to thrive at Trailside.

They add that "Losing Pal and Sadie marks the end of an era." If you have any memories of Pal and Sadie you're encouraged to share them on the Trailside Museums and Zoo at Bear Mountain State Park Facebook page.