Zoo’s Excitement Over Samson’s Arrival Might Prove Too Much to Bear

Under the hot spotlights of the media, the county’s newest superstar--Samson the Hot Tub Bear--will be introduced to the public this month at his new home at the Orange County Zoo, officials announced Friday.

“We expect every newspaper and television station around to be here,” said county park manager Tim Miller. “We think it’s going to be a media zoo.”

Among the celebrities attending the Feb. 27 event will be Gov. Pete Wilson, whose pardon spared Samson’s life after he was caught on video splashing into pools and hot tubs in the San Gabriel Valley more than a year ago.

“We’re excited about this too,” said Wilson press secretary Sean Walsh. “The governor is pleased to see that Samson has a permanent home.”

Samson will arrive at the zoo about three days before the event. The 600-pound black bear will be shipped from a California Department of Fish and Game holding facility, where he has been the most famous boarder for the last 16 months.

“We will miss Samson,” said Pam Swift, interim wildlife management director. “But he will go to a bigger, better place and that’s going to be very good for him.”

The Orange County Zoo is putting the finishing touches on Samson’s new digs. His exhibit will feature huge simulated sandstone cliffs with a 12-foot waterfall cascading into a personal swimming pool, which is surrounded by pine trees and other landscaping. When the 17-year-old bear retires for the evening, he’ll pad into a heated den tucked behind the exhibit.

“He’ll have all the luxury in the world,” said Miller. “This is a structure built to house up to four bears. It’s a first-class setup.”

All funds and services needed to build the exhibit were donated. The money needed to keep up the exhibit is expected to come from donations and the sale of Samson T-shirts, caps and pins.

“From the children in the schools, to the adults and corporations who supported us, we’re all tremendously excited,” said Dr. Robert Everakes, president of the Orange County Zoological Society, which coordinated the fund-raising efforts. “This is nicer than any bear exhibit I’ve ever seen. It’s going to be a superb place for Samson to live out his remaining years.”

Samson wandered out of the wilderness outside Monrovia and into the headlines in 1994. A Monrovia homeowner videotaped the bear climbing out of a backyard pool. Once the tape was aired on television stations, his story spread across the country.

After his capture, Samson was slated for euthanasia by state Fish and Game officials, who feared the bear would eventually wander back to civilization if released.

However, the bear was pardoned by Wilson and held in a temporary facility in Sacramento until the Orange County Zoo volunteered to build him a home.

In the ensuing months, the county zoo has been flooded with calls from people eager to know when the exhibit will open. Schools, local companies and corporations from as far away as New York have stepped forward to contribute to the building fund.

“It’s an amazing story,” said Miller. “I think it illustrates that people have real soft spot in their hearts for animals.”