MURCHISON, Texas — Humans aren't the only creatures moving to Texas from California — a mama bear and her cub are the newest transplants who've found a home in the Lone Star State.

Jackie, 6, and Russell, 1, were recently relocated to the 1,400-acre Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch after getting too comfortable with California humans. The little-known animal sanctuary in Murchison, Texas, is home to more than 800 domestic and exotic animals and works to rescue displaced animals from near-death situations.

Last year Jackie and Russell were relocated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to an area 70 miles from a suburban area in southern California they’d made home. Director at the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch Noelle Almrud says the momma and her cub were relocated two more times, but each time the duo returned to the community they were originally removed from.

“They were at a rehabilitation center in Ramona California,” said Almrud. “They couldn't keep them long term. They weren't able to be released because they’d had interactions with the public and we were able to take them. We had available space to provide permanent sanctuary for them.” 

Eventually the two will be able to receive visitors, but Almrud stresses the sanctuary is not a zoo. Before COVID-19, she and her staff welcomed visitors only one to two times per month. 

“We do offer pre-scheduled guided tours,” she said. “We educate the public on why these animals came here so that hopefully we can put ourselves out of business because there's no need for us to rescue animals anymore.”

Although most animal conservationists would agree bears like Jackie and Russell should be able to live in the wild, that isn’t always possible when they get too comfortable in suburban areas. A backyard trash can filled with tasty leftovers is hard for most wild animals to resist. This close contact to humans can be potentially dangerous for both people and bears.  

Almrud and her staff are focused on protecting the animals and giving them an opportunity that nobody else is able to give. The bear’s enclosure is wooded enough for it to feel more like a natural habitat compared to a concrete cage in a zoo. Their goal is to educate visitors on the proper way to interact with bears in the wild while giving them a safe home.  

“We've given them an acre of natural wooded habitat,” said Almrud. “They climb trees, we've given them a pool they can splash around in the pool, and they're just acting like bears would in the wild, and we provide you know medical care, husbandry care, but other than that we were hands off.”

The sanctuary has halted their volunteer program due to COVID-19, but is normally taking volunteer applications around this time of year.

Those interested help in a wide variety of ways ranging from administrative work, helping with maintaining the grounds, building enrichment toys for the primates, grooming and caring for the equines, and coordinating special events such as open house or tabling events.  

For more information on the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch and the volunteer program you can visit their website.

If you have an interesting story or an issue you’d like to see covered, let us know about it. Share your ideas with DFW reporter Lupe Zapata: Lupe.Zapata@Charter.com.