Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications
Photos and Video: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo
Juniper the brown bear and Fern the grizzly bear explore their outdoor habitat together. It’s double trouble, double loveliness.
Thanks to Juniper’s presence, Fern was able to adjust to his new home much faster than usual. “Fern has responded to behavioral training and is at home. “Children are rapidly becoming the best buds, and Juniper has taken care of the fern. You will really enjoy watching it.”
The natural habitat of the brown bears on the Living Northwest Trail provides a rich environment of intertwined lazy streams. A bear-sized pool with live fish. “Furniture” such as stones for basking in the sun are exhibited. A tree stump makes an excellent nail sharpener support. Browse and novel scents. and a quiet cave for a winter nap.
meet fern
Grizzly bear cub Fern was born in Montana this winter and arrived at the Woodland Park Zoo as a rescue animal in October. Fern currently weighs 167 pounds. She can be distinguished from Juniper by her long nose and small stature.
Introducing Juniper
Juniper, a baby brown bear, was found wandering alone near an Air Force base in Anchorage, Alaska. Like Fern, she was born this winter, and she is about the same age as Fern. Juniper said she quickly became a zoo favourite, when she met the public for the first time in August. At her current weight of 256 pounds, she is noticeably larger than Fern.
Both babies were too young to fend for themselves. A cub learns everything about being a bear directly from its mother, including hunting, foraging, and other survival skills. Also, brown bears do not rehabilitate.
“It’s important that bears get smarter to coexist with carnivores,” says Kevin Murphy, senior director of animal care at Woodland Park Zoo. “We know it is possible to coexist with bears and share beautiful scenery in the Pacific Northwest. Not feeding birds if you live in an area and storing pet food and other attractants in a safe building are simple home precautions to protect bears, humans and animals. of wildlife are safe.”
When you discover juniper, fern, and the zoo’s other grizzly bear, Keema, 28, don’t forget to check out the zoo’s new lynx exhibit and Kathy Hellzig Base Camp Northwest, which opened just last week on the Living Northwest Trail. Please stop by
When can I visit Juniper and Ferns? The cub takes turns doing the routine with Keema. Keema is usually out for about an hour, followed by two cubs. Because cubs are cubs, there is no fixed schedule. Our advice is to check the Living Northwest Trail when you arrive and if the cubs aren’t there, wait 45 minutes and she’ll be back for an hour or so.
Brown bears are an iconic species and these new babies are a symbol of hope for the recovery of North Cascades grizzly bears.
Federal agencies are considering recovering grizzly bears to North Cascades and would appreciate your input. Grizzly bears roamed his more than six million acres of wilderness in the North Cascades for centuries until they were driven to local extinction in the 1800s. The grizzly bear lives right here. Grizzly bears contribute to a thriving ecosystem by aerating the soil and dispersing plant seeds. These are part of nature’s delicate balance. Washingtonians already know how to coexist with wildlife, including bears. Bear safety and awareness is always a top priority. Bottom line: it’s time to get them back. participate in this important public process, submit a comment.
Woodland Park Zoo advocates for the conservation of species and spaces around the Pacific Northwest through its zoos. Living Northwest Conservation Program, lynx, wolverines and many other animals. exhibition and related websites, “We live in the northwest” It offers visitors a number of conservation actions to take to help the species that share the region’s iconic landscape. Anyone can share how they live in the Northwest on social media using #IAmLivingNorthwest. You may even be featured in a new kiosk on the Living Northwest Trail.