A New Bear Sculpture Graces Merced County

Yogi, step aside. There’s a new bear in town, and this one is made of wood.

A monumental wooden bear has just been erected in the San Joaquin Valley. Unlike its wild counterparts, this bear needs a name rather than a picnic basket.

Merced County officials have decided to crowdsource naming ideas for an impressive sculpture created from a century-old tree that was dying in a local park. Rather than removing it, they saw a chance to turn the stump into a noteworthy fixture.

District 2 Supervisor Josh Pedroso remarked that this massive statue embodies “the character and spirit of our community.”

Honestly, Merced has a penchant for bears.

The Applegate Zoo is home to two black bears and is gearing up for a new exhibition next month. Plus, Merced High School’s mascot is a flying bear. Clearly, community bear pride runs deep.

This bear in Courthouse Park is crafted by Tommy McCarty, a local sculptor from Dos Palos Island, who has been working with wood for over a decade. He launched his own business, McCarty Wood Sculpting, in 2020.

“The park reached out to me about this tree that had seen better days and was over 100 years old. Instead of just cutting it down, the idea was to honor it by creating something beautiful for the community, something that could last another century,” McCarty shared in a TikTok video.

He completed the sculpture in just three days, receiving a flood of positive responses.

“Honestly, I can’t tell you how many bears I’ve carved by now. It feels routine to me, but for the audience, it looks special,” he noted.

Now, the residents have the task of naming this new addition. The name can be anything from clever to historical or just plain fun.

Submissions are open until May 31st, and the winner will earn praise from the Merced County Board of Supervisors.