Grin and Bear It

We’ll know the answer tomorrow, but for now, let’s speculate on the name of Maymont Bear II.

The 21-month-old male bruin from Madison County will be called by the winning name suggested in a second children’s naming contest (the first yielded “Phoenix” for the other bear). Mayor Wilder will announce it at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the bear habitat. I can understand the city’s motivation in making this a children’s naming contest, because the entries would be a lot more sincere than those proffered by adults.

But that’s not as much fun for us, now is it?

So, here are some off-the-cuff bear names we’ve heard around the office: Munchy, Tempe (a perfect pairing with Phoenix), Berenstain, Pleasedontkillme. None of these, of course, are likely to become the bear’s official name.

We’ll have to wait for the mayor to tell us in his press conference.

UPDATE: The bear's name is Midnight, according to Maymont staff. And his namers are: nine-year-old Charlotte Nasworthy of the Collegiate School and 10-year-old Desiree Anderson of Cumberland County Elementary School, the city says.

As for the mayor, he received a certificate from Maymont proclaiming him a "Bear Buddy for Life." That's quite an honor.