Grinder and Coola Emerge from their 10th Hibernation

On Wednesday afternoon at approximately 2pm, Grinder and Coola, our two resident Grizzly Bears, emerged from their 10th hibernation at Grouse Mountain. This was their longest hibernation at Grouse Mountain at a little over five months in duration!

As per their usual routine, Grinder dug his way out first once the den door was open and he was followed shortly thereafter by Coola. Once outside both bears proceeded to have a good romp in the snow, slide down the snow hills, clean their coats on the fresh snow and generally have a good time. After a good wrestle they both were breathing heavy and ready for a bit of R&R in the snow.

During hibernation Grinder and Coola did not eat, sleep, urinate or deficate. They did spend some time shifting around, stretching and occasionally going for a short walk. These movements help keep their bones and muscles active so that in the spring they can be ready to go. Their rambuncious antics certainly were testimony to that!

You can now visit Grinder and Coola in their hibernation habitat daily during our operating hours.

Some photos of the emergence:

Excavations begin on Bear Habitat!

Hello everyone - it has been a long winter filled with incredible snow fall and amazing ski conditions. Now, however, the days are getting longer and warmer and that means Grinder and Coola are begining to wake-up from their period of winter dormancy. Both bears have been seen leaving their sleeping chamber more often to explore the outer building, have a look outside, or roll around in the snow that has blown into their bear den.

Seeing this, we have begun our excavations of the bear's hibernation habitat adjacent to the bear den. This process will take up to two weeks and then we will put the fence up and allow the bears to official end their hibernation. For now we will continue to work at preparing their home and monitoring their behaviors.

More updates to follow but here are a couple pictures of the incredible snow base we have to clear from around the bear den!

Bears Build Bed - Close to Hibernation Now!

On Thursday morning, November 18th, Grinder and Coola suddenly decided it was time to build their hibernation bed! We had provided them with lots of nice soft fir branches a couple weeks before hand but they had gone largely ignored until today. The trigger for their bed building was probably our dropping temperatures and our first serious dump of snow. The snow, cold and short days are all triggers that the bears should begin their winter sleep.

It was all over in a couple short hours and the bears were enjoying their new mattress! As the snow continues to build over the next few days the bears will spend an increasing amount of time sleeping inside. Once we are sure they are spending most of the day inside the den we will close the outer door to their 'bear hotel' and they will spend the winter inside.

Here are a few screen shots of the bed making activity from our infrared cameras inside the den - remember it's pitch black in there!

An Empty Den

Grinder checking out the den.

The first few branches are dragged in.

Testing out the first branches.

Time for more!

A view of the new mattress.

Coola and Grinder test it out together.

Ahhhh perfect!