Kicking Horse Mountain Resort hosted a celebration this past weekend for Boo, the resident grizzly bear at the resort’s refuge. The event marked Boo’s birthday, although it was more of a symbolic celebration, as grizzly bears are born during the winter while denning with their mothers. The July celebration is also close to the anniversary of Boo’s arrival at the refuge in 2002, making it more of an anniversary than a birthday, but a birthday party sounds a lot more fun.
Most of us who live in Golden have heard the story of Boo, but for those who have somehow made it this far without, let me bring you up to speed. Boo and his brother, Cari, were found orphaned after their mother was illegally killed by a poacher. At the time, it was standard practice to euthanize orphaned bear cubs because their chances of surviving on their own were considered extremely slim. As harsh as it may seem, it was believed to be the most humane option.
Instead, Boo and Cari were given another chance at life and were moved to the refuge built specifically for them. Tragically, Cari died during their first winter dormancy, and Boo woke up alone in the spring. Other than a couple of brief escapes over the years, he has lived at the refuge ever since.
An element of Boo’s story you may not be familiar with is just how important he has been to grizzly bear research. Because he has lived at the refuge for more than two decades, researchers have been able to study him in ways that are nearly impossible with wild grizzly bears.
His keepers have documented his behaviour daily, recording everything from foraging and play to sleeping patterns and seasonal changes. According to the Grizzly Bear Refuge, those observations formed the basis of a master’s thesis and have provided researchers with valuable insight into the development and natural behaviours of orphaned grizzly bears, including a better understanding of their winter dormancy. He has also played an important role in educating visitors about grizzly bears, bear safety, and conservation.
The celebratory weekend for Boo included a variety of activities for visitors and enrichment experiences for the birthday bear. Enhanced morning tours featured a food-filled piñata on Saturday and one of Boo’s favourite enrichment items, a cow hide, on Sunday. Mid-day activities included scavenger hunts, bear spray demonstrations, and a station where guests could make birthday cards for Boo. Each afternoon, Boo also enjoyed a special birthday cake to mark the occasion.
Boo is now about 24 and a half years old, which is considered old for a wild grizzly bear. Most grizzlies live between 20 and 25 years if they don’t die earlier due to conflict, injury, or other challenges. Staff at the refuge say there is a good chance Boo could live well beyond that thanks to the specialized care, balanced diet, and safe habitat he receives, so there’s no need to count the old guy out just yet.
For nearly 25 years, Boo has been much more than a resident of the Grizzly Bear Refuge. He has become an ambassador for grizzly bear conservation, helped advance our understanding of these remarkable animals, and earned a special place in the hearts of the Golden community. If you get the chance to visit the Grizzly Bear Refuge this summer, he’s well worth stopping in to see.
