Looking for a meaningful way to treat your pet this holiday season? At Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, enrichment isn’t an extra, it’s an essential part of caring for animals. Whether it’s gray wolves following scent trails, bears investigating puzzle feeders, or skunks foraging for treats, every enrichment opportunity helps animals think, explore, and behave like they naturally would in the wild. “We offer a variety of enrichment types to target specific natural behaviors we know our animals are capable of,” explains Haley, keeper and Behavioral Husbandry Coordinator at Northwest Trek. “The more we learn about an individual animal, like how …

Brrr! You can feel the chill in the air as the temperature drops. You’re likely pulling out your winter coats, if you haven’t already! Many of the animals at the wildlife park also have their winter coats ready and are well-prepared for the colder weather. Wolverine Wolverines are made for the cold- and our wolverine Rainier is no exception. Wolverines are well-adapted for winter living, with extremely dense fur, large snowshoe-like paws that allow them to stay on top of deep snow and crampon-like claws that enable them to climb up and over steep cliffs and snow-covered peaks. Their thick …

Reindeer tend to steal the spotlight in December, but it’s their close relative, the caribou, that turns heads at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. But what exactly is the difference between the two (besides one being Santa’s favorite)? What’s the difference? Scientifically speaking, reindeer and caribou are the same genus and species – Rangifer tarandus. But they are different sub-species – tarandus (reindeer) and granti (caribou). What the animal is called can depend on their origin and domestication. The word reindeer refers to domesticated animals. Both reindeer and caribou can be found in Alaska but have different lifestyles. Reindeer were brought …

The black bears at Northwest Trek have gone down for their winter naps, also known as torpor. During torpor, a bear’s body temperature and respiratory and metabolic rates decrease to conserve energy. The bears can maintain this low energy sleeping state for days, weeks, or even months without having much activity outside their den, including eating and going to the bathroom.  Northwest Trek’s black bears, Benton and Fern, typically go into torpor from November until February or March. “Benton and Fern do have periods of activity during the winter months, where they will eat, go to the bathroom, and …

 There’s a new face in the forest at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park: Syaʔyaʔ, an American marten estimated to be 1-2 years old. Syaʔyaʔ will make her public debut on Friday, Oct. 17 in the wildlife park’s Forest & Wetlands habitat. With her long, silky fur, curious brown eyes, and quick, graceful movements, Syaʔyaʔ (pronounced SEE-yut-yuh) is an ambassador for one of North America’s most elusive woodland creatures. Her name, meaning “friend” in the Lushootseed language, honors the Coast Salish people of the Pacific Northwest, who have cared for the land where Northwest Trek now stands since time immemorial. The …

Black cats, pumpkins, ghosts, skulls, and skeletons symbolize the Halloween season. We asked Northwest Trek’s animal care team, Head Veterinarian Dr. Kadie Anderson and Veterinary Technician Tracy Cramer, to give us an “inside” look at a few of the wildlife park’s animals and their not-so-spooky skeletons. The animal care team regularly takes radiographs (X-rays) of the animals to assess their health and care for them. Sullivan the Cougar Check out Sullivan the cougar cub’s X-rays from when he received care for a limp. This image shows the growth plates in his front legs. Since Sullivan is still growing, the growth …

Fat Bear Week, September 23-30, is a celebration of success and survival, where brown bears in the Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska are matched against each other in a “march madness” style online voting competition to see who is crowned the Fat Bear Week Champion of 2025. No, it’s not fat shaming- it’s highlighting the resilience and adaptability of brown bears. The winner will be announced on Fat Bear Tuesday, September 30. While the grizzly bears at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park aren’t in the competition, we think they’re worth celebrating, too. Huckleberry and Hawthorne, both seven years old, …

Rescued cougar cubs Sullivan and Sienna are growing quickly and adapting well to their habitat at Northwest Trek, thanks to the dedicated care of their keepers. Sullivan now weighs 56 pounds, while Sienna is at 47. Adult cougars typically weigh between 75 and 200 pounds, with females generally falling on the lighter end of that range. Their diet is thoughtfully balanced with ground meat and whole prey items they might naturally hunt in the wild, such as rabbit, chicken, and elk, to support their instincts and nutritional needs. Rabbit remains a favorite, though their elk enrichment was a standout moment …

It’s time for a new seasonal menu! A considerable part of a keeper’s job is preparing specialized, enriching diets for the animals in their care. For Northwest Trek grizzly bears, Hawthorne and Huckleberry, that means a whole new slate of delicious foods related to the season. “In the fall, we offer the grizzly boys butternut and acorn squash,” explained keeper Carly. “We also make a special trail mix, which includes sunflower and walnut seeds, peanuts, shredded coconut, raisins, dried dates, figs, plums, and cranberries.” But don’t worry- that’s not all. The six-year-old bears are preparing for their winter torpor naps …

Elk bugling tours are sold out for 2025 At Northwest Trek, fall is a magical time. A palette of bronze sweeps the hillsides. Golden light streams through the trees. Dust rises from bison, rolling and sparring. And through the forest comes an eerie, haunting whistle – the sound of elk bugling. The rut – mating season – runs September-October. Out in the Free-Roaming Area, male elk, bison and bighorn sheep vie for dominance and select their mates. Whether you prefer a leisurely Wild Drive in your own vehicle, an up-close experience on a Keeper Adventure Tour or Elk Bugling Tour, …