Grinder and Coola Mark the 19th Anniversary of their Arrival at Grouse Mountain
Posted by Devin Manky September 5, 2020
September 5th 2001
Grinder and Coola, our two resident Grizzly Bears at the Refuge for Endangered Wildlife first arrived on Grouse Mountain back in 2001 - on September 5th to be exact!
Today marks the 19th anniversary of their arrival here at the mountain. While a lot has changed over the years, the bears have stayed remarkably consistent.
They go about their annual cycle with regularity. They emerge from their winter sleep in the spring; have playful summer days; eat a ton of food to prepare for winter; make a bed to sleep on and finally den up for the cold months.
September 5 2020
This has been another fairly standard year for Grinder and Coola, despite all the uncertainty that 2020 brought for the rest of us.
Both bears are doing well and are starting to bulk up for the winter - Coola has broken the 900lb mark and Grinder is getting close to 800lbs! They each have shed and re-grown a brand new fur coat to see them through the upcoming winter.
They will continue to add on weight as we get closer to winter and as we enter October they will look to make their mattress of branches inside their bear den.
Soon the snow will come and the bears will be back inside but until then you can visit and say hello to them yourselves and wish them a happy 19th anniversary!!
