The beloved wildlife ambassador will be remembered for a lifetime of gentle connection.
Flamingo Gardens is heartbroken to share the passing of Josh, our beloved American black bear, who died peacefully of old age on Friday, January 9, 2026. Josh would have turned 27 years old on January 23—a remarkable milestone for a black bear in human care and a testament to the extraordinary life he lived surrounded by love, respect, and expert care.
“Josh was more than an animal in our care—he was family,” said Flamingo Gardens Sr. Director of Wildlife, Michael Ruggieri. “He helped teach generations of visitors that wildlife deserves compassion, protection, and respect. His long life reflects the dedication of his caregivers and the incredible support of our community.”
Josh’s story was one of resilience, kindness, and connection. Bottle-fed as a cub, Josh spent his early years as an ambassador animal at another facility in Davie, FL, where he made appearances at schools, birthday parties, and community events. His calm, gentle demeanor made him a natural ambassador, and he quickly became beloved by everyone he met.
When that facility lost its state permit, Josh—then 12 years old—was placed at Animal Adventures in Okeechobee while a permanent home was sought. Too accustomed to people to ever be safely released into the wild, Josh needed a place where he could live out his life with dignity, space, and enrichment. That home became Flamingo Gardens.
In 2013, after a community-supported effort, Josh arrived at Flamingo Gardens, where he spent the next chapter of his life in a spacious new naturalistic habitat built specifically for him, with trees, a rock cave, enrichment toys, and a pond-like pool. Josh arrived overweight and with acute osteoarthritis, which was treated successfully, though the condition naturally progressed as he aged. Despite this, he enjoyed his habitat, pool, and enrichment, demonstrating the resilience and spirit that endeared him to everyone.
For nearly 13 years, Josh was one of Flamingo Gardens’ most treasured residents, known by guests and caregivers alike for his affectionate nature and love of his pool, favorite treats, and familiar voices.
Josh’s legacy lives on through the Bear Habitat built in his honor, which will continue to provide a home for rescued bears in need. Flamingo Gardens thanks the community whose generosity made Josh’s journey possible and invites all who loved him to visit his habitat and celebrate his extraordinary life.
“I first met Josh when he was only a few months old, and he was never an ordinary bear,” recalls Laura Wyatt, Curator of Wildlife, Flamingo Gardens. “From watching him grow to helping give him a forever home at Flamingo Gardens, it has been the honor of my life to know him. Josh was deeply loved by his community and everyone he met—his heart was as big as he was. He wasn’t just a bear, he was Josh, and he changed lives by connecting people to wildlife.”
