Grouse Mountain grizzlies snacking on lettuce following 171 day hibernation

It was the longest hibernation ever for Grouse Mountain’s resident grizzlies Grinder and Coola in two decades, but they have finally emerged from their den for spring.

The grizzlies first order of business was to have a snack on the romaine lettuce which was scattered around their habitat.

“This leafy green vegetable imitates the emerging grasses and shrubs that wild bears find on their first forays out from their winter chambers. The lettuce also has a high water content that helps flush out their stomachs and reboot their digestive systems following a winter of no food,” Grouse Mountain said in their release.

While many thought the bears were shaking off winter a few weeks ago when they were spotted on their den live stream moving about, the bears didn’t officially end their winter hibernation until Thursday.

If you were watching the live stream and noticed some movement, Dr. Ken Macquisten, a veterinarian at Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife, says you may have seen the grizzlies move around, wake up, stretch and at times even sleepwalk. Macquisten says this “really helps to keep their muscles in good shape when they ultimately emerge in the spring.” Experts say this is because grizzlies enter a state of torpor, a mild form of hibernation.

“There’s a little bit of grogginess to it, very slow, it’s more just checking things out, standing up, turning around, changing position, but it happens a few times every day. But for extended periods of time, 20 hours, 21 hours, there’s no motion at all,” Macquisten said. 

Their body temperature drops and heart rate slows, they neither drink nor eat. They also don’t defecate or urinate, as their metabolism is in recycle mode, a process which continues to fascinate scientists.

“This year, the bears went into hibernation and their pre-hibernation weight was Grinder was 950 pounds and Coola was 1050. At 171 days later, we just got a weight yesterday, Grinder was 735 pounds and Coola was 836 pounds … That’s pretty impressive weight loss in that time,” Macquisten added. 

Grinder and Coola are orphans and have called their enclosure on Grouse Mountain home for 21 years. Their current habitat is being expanded, but guests will still be able to see the bears while the work continues. Those at home can always watch the bears on the live webcam, which at last check, showed the pair being fed more lettuce.

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