Black bears Benton and Fern recently underwent routine comprehensive wellness exams led by head veterinarian Dr. Kadie Anderson, with support from associate veterinarian Dr. Cassidy Soehnlein, veterinary technician Tracy, and the wildlife park’s dedicated animal keepers.

The exams included vaccines, dental cleanings, blood and urine collection, ultrasounds, nail trims and coat grooming. These routine checkups allow the veterinary team to closely monitor the bears’ health and quickly address any concerns that may arise.

Benton and Fern are trained to actively participate in their own veterinary care through a variety of voluntary behaviors. By calmly offering their paws to keepers, animal care staff can safely perform limited examinations and collect blood samples with minimal stress to the bears. They are also trained to accept injections, including the anesthetic drugs used for these exams. Receiving anesthesia in this way helps create a calm, low-stress experience and allows the care team to conduct necessary medical procedures as safely and comfortably as possible.

Benton and Fern are brother and sister and have called Northwest Trek home since 2014. The pair were rescued as orphaned cubs in Oregon in 2008 and previously lived at another zoo before settling into their current habitat together. They are closely bonded, sometimes even sharing the same den they dug beneath a tree stump.

Keepers describe Benton as a determined “go-getter,” especially when food is involved. While he enjoys sweet treats like apples, pears, grapes and avocados, he also loves napping, searching for insects in rotting logs and cooling off in the pool during warm weather.

Fern is known for being observant and cautious, though she also has a playful side. Like her brother, she is highly food motivated and especially fond of avocados. Fern enjoys creating daybeds throughout her habitat where she can rest while keeping an eye on her surroundings. She also spends time foraging and turning rotting logs into mulch.