The May 20, 1957 issue of LIFE featured a story on a bear cub who was living among the humans, and charming them all. The humans named him Teddy.
How did this bear cub come to live with people? “Found motherless in a redwood tree six weeks ago, he was adopted by the Gordon Millers of Arcata, Calif.,” LIFE explained. “Since then, he has spent his days going to school with Mrs. Miller, who teaches second grade…In the evenings, he romps with the Millers’ three children.”
LIFE staff photographer N.R. Farbman was there to capture the moment. His photos show Teddy hugging the leg of Mr. Miller, romping with the Miller children, and becoming the center of attention at Mrs. Miller’s second grade class room. Farbman even took shots of Teddy and the Miller’s pet dog checking each other out.
The photos of the bear and the dog raise the uncomfortable question behind all this cuteness. Dogs are on the list of animals that have been domesticated. Bears are not (despite the occasional rare exception). So how did this end?
Well, one day Teddy nipped at Mrs. Miller, and that was pretty much that. The Millers turned Teddy over to the local zoo.
But it was fun while it lasted.
P.S. If you happen to be a fan of bears, LIFE has a special issue devoted to these fascinating animals.
Teddy the bear cub was adopted by a family in Arcata, Calif. after he was found abandoned in a redwood tree, 1957.
N.R. Farbman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Teddy held onto the leg of Gordon Miller, part of the family that had adopted the cub bear after he was found in abandoned in a redwood tree, 1957.
N.R. Farbman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Teddy the bear cub was adopted by a family in Arcata, Calif. after he was found abandoned in a redwood tree, 1957.
N.R. Farbman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Teddy the bear cub was adopted by a family in Arcata, Calif. after he was found abandoned in a redwood tree, 1957. He drank three bottles of milk each day.
N.R. Farbman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Teddy the bear cub was adopted by a family in Arcata, Calif. after he was found abandoned in a redwood tree, 1957.
N.R. Farbman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Teddy the bear cub was adopted by a family in Arcata, Calif. after he was found abandoned in a redwood tree, 1957.
N.R. Farbman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Teddy the bear cub was adopted by a family in Arcata, Calif. after he was found abandoned in a redwood tree, 1957.
N.R. Farbman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Teddy the bear cub was adopted by a California school teacher after being found abandoned in the wild, and she brought him in to her second-grade class, 1957.
N.R. Farbman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Teddy the bear cub was adopted by a California school teacher after being found abandoned in the wild, and she brought him in to her second-grade class, 1957.
N.R. Farbman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Teddy the bear cub was adopted by a California school teacher after being found abandoned in the wild, and she brought him in to her second-grade class, 1957. The cub drank three bottles of milk each day.
N.R. Farbman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Teddy the bear cub was adopted by a California school teacher after being found abandoned in the wild, and she brought him in to her second-grade class, 1957.
N.R. Farbman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Teddy the bear cub was adopted by a California school teacher after being found abandoned in the wild, and she brought him in to her second-grade class, 1957.
N.R. Farbman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Teddy the bear cub was adopted by a California school teacher after being found abandoned in the wild, and she brought him in to her second-grade class, 1957.
N.R. Farbman/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
