Cue Rosemary Clooney singing "Good morning, good morning!"
The grey skies have cleared up and it's time to put on a happy face for Grouse Mountain’s two resident Grizzly bears, Grinder and Coola, emerged from hibernation this morning at the Peak of Vancouver.
A press release from Grouse Mountain noted this concludes the bears’ 16th hibernation period and second longest since their arrival at the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife. Over the course of their 152-day winter dormancy, staff monitored Grinder and Coola’s hibernation via an infrared camera placed in their hibernation den and the live feed was shared with the public on the Grouse Mountain website.
Ken Macquisten, refuge director and veterinarian stated in the release that the annual awakening of the massive male Grizzlies signals the coming of summer adventures.
Grinder and Coola were welcomed into their habitat at Grouse Mountain’s Refuge for Endangered Wildlife in 2001 after being orphaned during separate incidents in Bella Coola and Invermere. Both Grizzlies celebrated their 16th birthday during their most recent hibernation period.
