ZooMontana euthanizes aging grizzly bear, Bruno

ZooMontana staff and volunteers bid an emotional farewell to an iconic resident Thursday morning. Bruno the grizzly bear was humanely euthanized after several health battles became too severe to manage, according to the zoo.

Bears Ozzy and Bruno checked out some camping gear in March 2015 at ZooMontana. The new Underriner Motors BearCam provides a live feed of the bears as they wrestle, take a swim or forage for food.

BOB ZELLAR/Gazette Staff

The estimated 23-year-old bear’s health issues were linked to the lack of care he received as a young bear, when he was illegally held in a private, Tennessee backyard within a small dog kennel.

Bruno, known for his droopy lip, teddy bear ears and large stature, was a staple at ZooMontana for 15 years. He arrived at the Zoo in 2008 from Zoo Knoxville, which agreed to bring Bruno in after he was discovered being illegally held.

ZooMontana’s grizzly bear, Bruno was rescued from private captivity as a cub and arrived in Billings as an

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