Bear names for bid

SAN FRANCISCO – Like ballparks and office towers, the naming rights to two grizzly bears at the San Francisco Zoo will be sold to the highest bidder.

In an effort to raise money, zoo officials will auction off the right to name the orphaned sisters, who were going to be euthanized in Montana before the zoo agreed to take them in October.

The zoo hopes to get at least $30,000 for naming rights for the pair at its April 29 fundraising gala, zoo spokeswoman Nancy Chan said.

In November, the zoo promoted a naming contest after the 2-year-old bears made their public debut. About 750 entries came in for names such as “Pocahontas” and “Smokey.”

The contest was canceled recently because zoo officials decided auctioning the naming rights would be more lucrative.