Grouse Mountain grizzlies awake from hibernation
Posted April 19, 2024 3:50 pm.
Grouse Mountain’s resident grizzly bears awoke from hibernation Friday morning, emerging from their den at The Peak to a cheering crowd, officials say.
According to the resort, this marks the end of Grinder and Coola’s 23rd hibernation period at the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife.
The pair was monitored throughout their 149-day stint through the use of infrared cameras, which provided the public with a live feed of the bears.
Grouse Mountain says Grinder weighed 940 lbs. at the start of the hibernation period, while Coola weighed 1,012 lbs. The bruins emerged Friday at a weight of 760 lbs. and 830 lbs. respectively.
To ease them out of their hibernation, the resort says the refuge team will feed Grinder and Coola lettuce to start before introducing other vegetables into their diets.
“We’re excited to welcome Grinder and Coola out of hibernation and to watch them explore their habitat and stretch their legs,” said Dr. Ken Macquisten, Wildlife Refuge director and veterinarian. “Hibernation through the winter is a natural way for Grizzlies to conserve energy during a time of low food availability.”
Officials say Grinder and Coola were brought to Grouse in 2001 after they were both left orphaned in separate incidents in Bella Coola and Invermere.
According to the resort, Grinder was found wandering on a logging road and was “dehydrated, thin, weak and weighing only 4.5 kg.”
“His mother was never found so we’ll probably never know why he was alone,” a release reads, describing the bear now as “outgoing and high-spirited.”
“He has established himself as the dominant bear despite his smaller size. If you see Grinder and Coola play fighting, you can bet he started it.”
Coola, meanwhile, was found on a highway near Bella Coola. Grouse explains the bear’s mother was killed by a truck, leaving three cubs orphaned, of which Coola was the only one to survive.
“Coola is an easygoing bear who’s content to let Grinder take the lead in new discoveries. He can usually be found submerged up to his neck in the large pond, carefully feeling around for his underwater ‘bath toys’ — a log, large bone and favourite rock,” Grouse explains.
