Name that bear: Merced County launches contest to name new wood sculpture
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- County commissioned a wood‑carved bear statue from Tommy McCarty.
- Residents may submit name suggestions for the bear through May 31, 2026.
- Winning name entry will be recognized by the Merced County Board of Supervisors.
A larger-than-life bear has lumbered into Courthouse Park — it doesn’t need food, but it does need a name.
Now, Merced County is turning to residents to name its newest public art installation.
The carved wooden bear sculpture was commissioned by the county after a 100-year-old tree in Courthouse Park became diseased. Rather than discarding the tree, the County “saw an opportunity to repurpose the stump into a meaningful and lasting addition to the park” according to a press release.
District 2 Supervisor Josh Pedrozo described the statue as a reflection of “the character and spirit of our community.”
As Mercedians know, this isn’t the only bear in town. The sign for Applegate Zoo in Merced — which was stolen and recovered by the Merced Police Department last year — is also a bear. The zoo is also home to two real black bears and is expected to unveil a new black bear exhibit next month. Merced High School’s mascot is also the bear, so there’s no shortage of recognition for this native animal.
The statue was carved by Tommy McCarty of Dos Palos, who grew up in Merced County. McCarty has been carving for 11 years, and woodcarving has been his full-time job since 2020. His business, McCarty Wood Sculpting, has created custom carvings, signs and log sculptures throughout California and the nation.
McCarty completed the sculpture in Courthouse Park in just three days. He said he is flattered that people are responding so well to the new bear statue. “It sure lifted a lot of people’s spirits up,” he said.
“It’s more than just a carving to me,” McCarty added.
Residents are encouraged to submit “creative, historic or just plain fun” name ideas at tinyurl.com/Namethatbear.
The deadline to submit ideas is May 31. The winning entry will be recognized by the Merced County Board of Supervisors.
This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 3:03 PM with the headline "Name that bear: Merced County launches contest to name new wood sculpture."
