By Maggie Martin
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/whqr/local-whqr-889431.mp3
Wilmington, NC – Dogs, cats, cows and horses are pretty common in Pender County. But there might also be boa constrictors, monkeys and bears.
"That's Baloo and that's Teddy. Baloo is just like Baloo from The Jungle Book.' He dances around and clowns around. And Teddy's just like a teddy bear he loves to snuggle and cuddle," says Monica Loughlin.
A pair of cages, two bears in each, sit near the backyard fence of Monica and Howard Loughlin's house. Monica stops in front of the first cage, smiles and points at the twin, 400 pound plus Himalayan Black Bears, Teddy and Baloo, sunbathing on top of their den.
"Their closest cousin is the North American Black Bear but you notice their round Mickey Mouse-like ears and they've got this mane around their necks and then the white V'."
The Loughlins began adding bears to their family 13 years ago, when they went to Tote-Em-In-Zoo in Wilmington.
"Luna-Teddy and Baloo's mother- was there and we just fell in love with her. She was just different. Just started going every week and became really good friends with the owners," says Monica.
And that's how they landed their first pair of cubs. The seven-year-old black bears were the first but definitely not the last bears the couple took in.
That's four-year-old Albert humming as he sucks on his cage. A grizzly, he weighs about 500 pounds and stands nearly 7 feet tall. Albert may be a little intimidating, but Howard isn't hesitant to hug and kiss the grizzly.
If the Loughlins have any fear of being attacked, they certainly don't show it. Howard is comfortable going in the dens at night and lying down with the bears. The couple says they love all the bears equally, but there's a sense that Howard may have a favorite.
"Albert wherever I go he goes," says Howard. "Oh he loves his daddy," adds Monica, "I can come out here in the mornings and clean them up and feed them and Albert won't say two words to me. But if daddy's around he's just talking chattering, chaterring, chattering. "
Albert hums and sucks away on his cage while his lighter-haired sister, Cherry Bomb, curiously stands next to him. There's a large bath in one section and a large rubber tire for play in the other. Apple slices still lay on the ground from breakfast. The yard stretches a third of an acre and includes a large, 5-feet-deep pond, a hill the Loughlins call "Bear Mountain," / and a wooden picnic table that has some noticeable teeth marks. To say the Louglins take basic care of the bears would be a gross understatement.
"They get Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthday parties. The Easter bunny comes to see them all sorts of stuff. Cook outs! We had a cook out last night!" says Howard. "They wear birthday hats complete with cake and presents," adds Monica.
The Loughlins aren't sure if they'll take in any more bears. For now, Teddy, Baloo, Cherry Bomb and Albert are all they need. "When they were little cubs we knew that we would do this forever. Yea I mean it wasn't like "ok when they get big we're going to try and find them a home. No it's like these are our children, this is our family, these are our children. We're not going to kick them out. The beauty of these is that they don't have to get married and go away. And they don't have to go to college."
As for how the neighbors feel about the bears? Well, the bears are just as much of a treat for them as they are for the Loughlins.
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