MADISON, Wis. — It could be one of Madison’s biggest questions this fall. Is Nora the polar bear pregnant?
Henry Vilas Zoo staff are watching Nora for signs, but we might not know for a bit. The zoo said there is no pregnancy test for polar bears, and the animal’s thick layer of fat means an ultrasound is ineffective.
But there’s reason for excitement. Nora added 237 pounds between March and September, something healthy female polar bears do when they’re getting ready for a possible pregnancy, and she’s spending an increased amount of time in her den.
She and male polar bear Siku were seen breeding earlier this year. According to the zoo, polar bears are delayed implanters so fertile eggs don’t implant until the fall.
Zoo staff updated her den recently and upgraded camera systems to better monitor her without having to disturb her. If Nora is pregnant, the cub would arrive in December or January. It would be her first child…