Meatball, also known as Glendale Bear, Glen Bearian, Meatball 210, and Meatball the Bear, is an American black bear known for his frequent visits to neighborhoods in northern Los Angeles and Glendale, California. He was moved to the Lions, Tigers, and Bears Animal Sanctuary in San Diego, California in 2012.
| Other name(s) |
|
|---|---|
| Species | American black bear (Ursus americanus) |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | c. 2006 or 2007 |
| Residence | Lions, Tigers, and Bears Animal Sanctuary, San Diego, California |
| Weight | 400–600 lb (181–272 kg) |
Life
editMeatball was born c. 2006 or 2007.[1] He was later ear-tagged with the number 210.[2]
In March 2012, Meatball made his first known neighborhood visit in northern Los Angeles and by the end of the summer, he had visited similar neighborhoods two more times,[2] this despite the California Department of Fish and Game relocating him more than 100 miles (160 km) after each visit. While in the neighborhoods, Meatball swam in backyard pools and went through trash and pet food left out by residents, and on one visit, he was discovered in a garage eating a package of meatballs, earning him his name.[1][3][4]
After Meatball's third visit, he was relocated to the Lions, Tigers, and Bears Animal Sanctuary in San Diego, California. Plans to relocate him to a larger sanctuary in Colorado were blocked by state officials after the San Diego facility pledged to build a 6-acre (24,000 m2) $250,000 ($342,405 in 2024) habitat for him. Meatball was not euthanized, the typical response to bears in his situation, due to his popularity online and amongst locals.[3][4]
In 2013, Meatball was reported to cost the Lions, Tigers, and Bears Animal Sanctuary $10,000 ($13,499 in 2024) per year. The cost for Meatball's habitat had increased to $350,000 ($464,879 in 2024) as of 2014.[2]
Meatball was reported as weighing 400 pounds in 2012,[5] 600 pounds in 2013,[2] 500 pounds in 2014,[6] and 600 pounds again in 2016.[7]
Intellectual property dispute
editDuring Meatball's rise in popularity, Twitter user Sarah Aujero opened an account for him. The account soon had more than 25,000 followers.[8] The following year, the Lions, Tigers, and Bears Animal Sanctuary entered into a dispute over control of the Twitter account and rights to the bear's name with Aujero regarding the account.[9] Lions, Tigers, and Bears Animal Sanctuary has since copyrighted Meatball 210 and Meatball the Bear,[7] while Aujero refers to Meatball as Glen Bearian.[2] As of 2016, the two parties are not in contact with each other.[7]
In popular culture
editIn 2014, Meatball was featured on the Rose Parade float Lets Be Neighbors, which won the Governor's Award for the "Best Depiction of Life in California".[1] Also in 2014, Lions, Tigers, and Bears Animal Sanctuary published a children's book featuring Meatball.[6] Meatball was also featured on The Tonight Show.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Meet Meatball, Our Black Bear". Lions, Tigers, and Bears Animal Sanctuary. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Phillips, Erica E (December 30, 2013). "Meatball the Bear Will Be a Star in Rose Parade". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ a b Milam, Greg (December 29, 2012). "Meatball The Bear Saved By Online Campaign". Sky News. Archived from the original on May 27, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ a b "'Meatball' the bear to call California home, will stay in San Diego". ABC7. September 27, 2012. Archived from the original on May 27, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ Lloyd, Jonathan (April 10, 2012). ""Meatball" the Bear Captured Behind La Crescenta Home". NBC4. Archived from the original on May 27, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ a b Levine, Brittany (April 2, 2014). "'Meatball' the bear has new children's book, name". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ a b c Bell, Diane (September 5, 2016). "Stew simmers over bear named Meatball". San Diego Tribune. Archived from the original on May 27, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "Meatball the Bear: social media celebrity saves animal". CBS News. October 19, 2012. Archived from the original on May 27, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ Levine, Brittany (November 11, 2013). "Sanctuary and Meatball's biggest fan tiff over bear's copyrighted name". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ Bunch, Joey (April 28, 2016). "California closes the door on Meatball becoming a Colorado bear". Denver Post.