Hi Neighbour,
ICYMI, (In case you missed it) Coola and Grinder came out of hibernation last week on Thursday, after 170 days, starting on November 10, 2020, and ending on April 29, 2021! Can you believe it? That’s their longest hibernation in the 20 years that they’ve been residents of Grouse Mountain, “the Peak of Vancouver”. That beats the previous record of 153 days, in 2017.
Grizzly cubs are usually born in January, during hibernation. In May, 2001, Coola was found on a highway near Bella Coola, on the Coast, next to his mother, who had been killed by a large truck. He was rescued and taken to a vet, who found him to be in good health. At that time, Grinder was found, alone, near Invermere, in the Rocky Mountains, emaciated, dehydrated and very weak. The forestry workers picked him up and took him to a vet’s office in town. Mum was never found.
In September 2001, they both arrived at the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife. They were given 5.5 acres of natural habitat. Of course, the ranger staff of the refuge created the best environment for them, but also a way to observe them as they grew. The Grouse Mountain Refuge was the envy of other wildlife refuges, because they could learn so much and teach so much about a greatly-feared, wild animal. They have tracked their eating habits before hibernation and what happens during the hibernation period each year, using an infrared webcam. It seems that they don’t actually lie down and sleep the whole time. It’s been referred to as “sleep walking”, from which they could wake, if something disturbing happens and/or if they need to relocate their den. The 2 male grizzlies get along well and hibernate together, if you can believe that. At the front of their den is a weigh scales, that they step on and their weight is recorded. In September 2020, Coola was 410 kg (900 lbs) and Grinder was almost 364 kg (800 lbs), but they were just starting to “pig out” before hibernation in November.
The rangers know that 85% of the grizzly diet is plant-based; we could learn a lesson, there, with all the meat and dairy we devour daily, eh? IMHO, (in my humble opinion) that only demonstrates the power of lobbying and advertising, but I digress. The webcam is down for now, but you can see photos of Grinder and Coola emerging from hibernation, eating a bit of lettuce, romping in the snow and going back into their den for a nap. Go to grousemountain.com, click on Activities & Attractions and go to Wildlife Refuge. They are truly wondrous, enormous animals, especially when they stand up on their hind legs! Unfortunately, no visitors are allowed on the mountain at this time. But it won’t be long.
Fiona