Noni the Bear, Fondly Known as 'Twinkle Toes,' Dies

Noni the black bear, whose penchant for balancing on the thinnest branches at the top of the redwoods in the enclosure earned the nickname “twinkle toes” from her caretakers, has died. She was 2 years old.

The Sequoia Park Zoo announced her passing in an Oct. 10 social media post, one day after the bear underwent a second emergency surgery in a week due to a constriction from connective tissue that caused substantial damage to her colon.

While zoo staff had been “cautiously optimistic about her recovery” following the first operation, during the second procedure, the zoo states, “it was discovered that the trauma to her colon was irreversible, and the organ had been unable to recover.”

“Noni brought so much joy to our zoo, and it is impossible to express the depths of our sadness at the passing of our sweet bear,” the announcement states. “These past few days have been incredibly difficult for the zoo team, especially for Noni’s dedicated caretakers, and we appreciate the care and support shown by our community. The loss of a beloved member of our animal family has a profound impact that never gets easier, and we know that our community is mourning alongside us.”

While not litter mates, Noni and fellow yearling Tule formed a bond when they were little more than tiny bundles of fur while being raised together at a wildlife rescue center after separate, but equally difficult starts in their lives that began hundreds of miles apart.

“Animal care staff are giving Tule extra attention while he adjusts to this new normal, and they report that he is eating well and interacting with enrichment,” the zoo states. “However, we remind visitors that Tule might choose to spend more time in the patio and night house, and he might not always be visible to guests.”

Tule was just a few weeks old, weighing a mere 3.7 pounds, when he was found in 2022 on Tule River Nation Reservation in Tulare County and was transferred to the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Center after days of unsuccessful attempts to find and reunite the cub with his mother.

A month later, Noni — a little larger, at 6.5 pounds — was also discovered as an orphan in the Oak Run area of Shasta County, about 20 miles east of Redding, and joined Tule at the rescue facility, where they would spend the next year being nursed back to health together.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials deemed both the cubs unsuitable for return to the wild — in Noni’s case because she never showed an appropriate fear of humans, despite efforts by the care team to prepare her for release.

From there, the search began to find them a place to live out their lives.

In a recent interview for a planned feature on the pair in Humboldt Insider magazine, Sequoia Park Zoo Animal Curator Amanda Auston said the CDFW keeps track of “all facilities within the state that are suitable for bear placement and have space to accept new bears” for such situations.

“Lucky for Sequoia Park Zoo, we had just completed the new habitat when Noni and Tule needed a home, and plans were made to transfer the bears to Humboldt,” she said.

They arrived at the Sequoia Park Zoo in May of 2023.

Auston said it was “not important or necessary for Noni and Tule to stay together, as they would naturally mature and go their separate ways in the wild,” but noted the two — which she dubbed “the dynamic duo” — had “a clear bond and compatibility” that the zoo was “happy to foster.”

The announcement of Noni’s passing prompted an outpouring of support from people near and far, who shared pictures, videos and their favorite memories of watching the orphaned yearlings’ playful escapades, while sending well wishes to zoo staff and Tule.

“The sweetest and silliest pair of bears. Losing Noni is so sad — sending the keepers, Tule, and everyone involved condolences and love,” one wrote.

“I’ve been following Noni … from the moment she arrived at the rescue,” another said. “I so loved watching her antics with the swing and a blanket that she would toss over her head. And I was delighted, yet sad that she wouldn’t go out into the wild, but was placed in your care. Her arborist and acrobatic stunts were truly a marvel. I adored her spirit. I hope her spirit receives an Indigenous send off. Hugs to you all for taking such care of Noni, and my heart goes out to you all.”

With many people asking whether another bear will be brought in as a companion for Tule, Auston said that while Noni and Tule were the first bears in the new habitat, “it was designed with the capacity to care for several animals, including more bears and coyote in the future.”

“We work closely with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) on the placement of rehabilitated animals, and we will coordinate with them when they have non-releasable wildlife in need of a home,” she said in a follow-up response to the Journal. “Typically, these placements occur in late spring or early summer and depend entirely on CDFW and the rehabilitation organization.”

The zoo described Noni as “a truly beautiful bear with a gorgeous coat, long eyelashes, blonde eyebrows, and a perfectly heart-shaped nose that would wiggle as she sniffed out her favorite treats, including peanuts, yogurt, and honey.”

“During her too-short time at the zoo, Noni delighted staff, volunteers, and visitors with her silly antics and goofy personality,” the announcement states. “Noni particularly enjoyed playing in bubbles and splashing in water, and zookeepers often joked about needing to get her a hot tub for the backyard.”

Along with sharing favorite photos and memories of Noni on the Sequoia Park Zoo Facebook page post, the zoo is asking the community to consider donations in her name to the Animal Enrichment Fund at redwoodzoo.org/donate.

“We are so fortunate to have been able to care for Noni, and we will miss her deeply,” the zoo said in the announcement.

Kimberly Wear (she/her) is the Journal’s digital editor. Reach her at (707) 442-1400, extension 323, or kim@northcoastjournal.com.