Rowen Pourciau, 7, delights in Nora, a 10-year-old polar bear, in the Arctic Passage at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison. Nora was abandoned by her mother and hand-raised by zookeepers in Columbus, Ohio. Despite the long odds, she survived and now, after arriving in Madison in January, may have her own cubs later this year.
Nora was pulled from her den after her mother walked away when she was 5 days old. Zookeepers had to scramble to make a formula that could replicate the polar bear mother's milk, which is 30% fat. Typical cow’s milk is 3% to 4% fat.
Siku, left, and Nora interact in one of the two outdoor yards of Vilas Zoo’s Arctic Passage. The $9.3 million habitat, which includes a harbor seal exhibit, opened in 2015.
Kristen Myers, lead keeper at Henry Vilas Zoo, shows off some of the toys battered by the zoo’s three polar bear. The toys are being stored in a maternity den but will be removed later this year in the hopes that Nora will become pregnant and have cubs in November or December.
Nora quickly grew thanks to feedings by her zookeepers every two hours. Nora is now over 600 pounds and is expected to gain another 250 pounds to prepare for denning this winter.
The Henry Vilas Zoo drew over 725,000 visitors in 2025 but the arrival of a baby polar bear would likely bring thousands of more visitors to the 115-year-old zoo.
Kristin Myers, a lead keeper at Henry Vilas Zoo, prepares a mix of ground beef and capelin, a sardine-like ocean fish, for Nora. Her diet is being steadily increased to help the polar bear gain 250 pounds before she heads into her den later this fall.
Johanna Soto, manager of the Henry Vilas Zoo, shows footage of Siku and Nora that was recorded by remote cameras in mid-February when the two began to mate. Because polar bears have delayed implantation, it will only be known if Nora is pregnant if she gives birth.
Ben Meendering, a zookeeper at Vilas Zoo, works on training Siku as he feeds the 1,100-pound polar bear chunks of lard. Zookeepers use food to entice bears to do certain movements, which can be helpful when evaluating a bear’s health.
Nora, a female polar bear. Photos provided by Oregon Zoo
Zella McCarthy, 7, gets a close look at Henry Vilas Zoo’s newest polar bear, Nora, as she swims in the pool in her enclosure at the zoo in Madison, Wis. Tuesday, March 3, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
AMBER ARNOLD
Polar bear, Nora, in her enclosure at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wis. Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
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Zookeepers Kristen Myers and Ben Meendering, at left, incorporate training during an afternoon feeding with polar bears, Nora, right, and Siku, at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wis. Tuesday, March 24, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
AMBER ARNOLD
Kristen Myers, lead zookeeper, and Johanna Soto, right, zoo manager, feed lettuce to polar bears Nora and Siku, right, at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wis. Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
AMBER ARNOLD
Polar bear, Nora, eats an ice treat, made of honey water and chopped produce, in her enclosure at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wis. Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
AMBER ARNOLD
Polar bears Siku, left, and Nora interact in their enclosure at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wis. Thursday, March 12, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
AMBER ARNOLD
Polar bears, Nora and Siku, right, in their enclosure at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wis. Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
AMBER ARNOLD
Visitors at Henry Vilas Zoo’s Glacier Grille watch polar bear, Nora, in her enclosure at zoo in Madison, Wis. Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
AMBER ARNOLD
Olin Jastram, 3, of McFarland, gets a close look at Henry Vilas Zoo’s newest polar bear, Nora, during a visit to the zoo in Madison, Wis. Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Rowen Pourciau, 7, delights in Nora, a 10-year-old polar bear, in the Arctic Passage at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison. Nora was abandoned by her mother and hand-raised by zookeepers in Columbus, Ohio. Despite the long odds, she survived and now, after arriving in Madison in January, may have her own cubs later this year.
Nora was pulled from her den after her mother walked away when she was 5 days old. Zookeepers had to scramble to make a formula that could replicate the polar bear mother's milk, which is 30% fat. Typical cow’s milk is 3% to 4% fat.
Siku, left, and Nora interact in one of the two outdoor yards of Vilas Zoo’s Arctic Passage. The $9.3 million habitat, which includes a harbor seal exhibit, opened in 2015.
Johanna Soto, manager of the Henry Vilas Zoo, shows footage of Siku and Nora that was recorded by remote cameras in mid-February when the two began to mate. Because polar bears have delayed implantation, it will only be known if Nora is pregnant if she gives birth.
Ben Meendering, a zookeeper at Vilas Zoo, works on training Siku as he feeds the 1,100-pound polar bear chunks of lard. Zookeepers use food to entice bears to do certain movements, which can be helpful when evaluating a bear’s health.
Kristen Myers, lead keeper at Henry Vilas Zoo, shows off some of the toys battered by the zoo’s three polar bear. The toys are being stored in a maternity den but will be removed later this year in the hopes that Nora will become pregnant and have cubs in November or December.
Nora quickly grew thanks to feedings by her zookeepers every two hours. Nora is now over 600 pounds and is expected to gain another 250 pounds to prepare for denning this winter.
The Henry Vilas Zoo drew over 725,000 visitors in 2025 but the arrival of a baby polar bear would likely bring thousands of more visitors to the 115-year-old zoo.
Kristin Myers, a lead keeper at Henry Vilas Zoo, prepares a mix of ground beef and capelin, a sardine-like ocean fish, for Nora. Her diet is being steadily increased to help the polar bear gain 250 pounds before she heads into her den later this fall.
