Fat Bear Week, October 4-October 10, 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 2023. 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 (Oct. 10). 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 five years old, …

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 five-year-old bears are preparing for their winter torpor naps …

Owls get a bad rap around this time of the year. They’re associated with bad luck and hooting off evil – but none of that is true. Owls are only bad luck if you happen to be a mouse! And the only reason they hoot is to communicate with other owls. In some countries, owls are killed because of the negative associations with them. We want to change that narrative: owls are beautiful, intelligent creatures that keep the rodent population down. Northwest Trek’s 8-year-old barn owl, Teklus (pronounced Tuck-loose), is an excellent ambassador for his wild counterparts. If you’ve visited …

It’s true – bats have a bad rap. They’re best buddies with Dracula and have a cameo in “Macbeth.” They inspire spooky Halloween decorations. But then there’s Batman. And those of us who know bats – like here at Northwest Trek – know that they truly are the superheroes of the night: zipping effortlessly in the dark using echolocation or cutting-edge wing design, munching their own weight in mosquitoes every night or spreading fruit seeds, and pollinating the world’s plants as they go. Right off the bat, without batting an eyelid, we’re going to bat for these adorable furry creatures …

Some people think springtime is their favorite time to visit the wildlife park to see baby animals. To others, summer is the best time: grizzly bears splashing around in pools and icy treats for everyone. And to others, winter offers a chance to see how animals adapt to colder temperatures and grow extra layers of fur. But to many, autumn is the most magical time: A palette of bronze sweeps the hillsides—golden light streams through the trees. Dust rises from animals, rolling and sparring. And through the forest comes an eerie, haunting whistle – the sound of elk bugling.   …

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. The perfect way to experience this magic up close? An Elk Bugling Tour. This year, we get you off-road and up to the action in the keeper Jeep, with just …

Ever wonder what it takes to feed an entire wildlife park? The keepers at Northwest Trek feed nearly 200 animals a day. It takes a specific science to prepare proper diets for all the different animals. “Each animal has a balanced diet based on its species, age, and any health-related issues,” said Northwest Trek curator Marc Heinzman. For example, the grizzly bears each eat 30 pounds of food daily during the summer. Their diet consists of fish, fruits, and leafy greens as they prepare for winter 2023’s torpor season. “The bears need to put on extra weight leading up to …

It’s been one year since orphaned moose calves Atlas, Luna, and Callisto first arrived at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. And what an a-moose-ing year it’s been getting to know them and care for them! The moose, all born in spring 2022, were rescued after being orphaned in Alaska. They arrived at Northwest Trek a few months later in August. All three moose weighed under 200 pounds when they first arrived. Now, Atlas, the male calf, weighs over 734 pounds, and female calves Luna and Callisto weigh 664 pounds and 554 pounds. All three calves are nearly 5 feet tall at …

Northwest Trek is celebrating five years since grizzly bears Hawthorne and Huckleberry first arrived at the wildlife park. To o-fish-ally mark the occasion, our community is invited to join special keeper chats on August 5 and August 6 at 1:30 p.m., where the bears will get special enrichment items like fish frozen in icy treats. Born in the winter of 2018, our grizzly bears were orphaned in the wild: Hawthorne in Alaska and Huckleberry in Montana. Neither would have survived without their mom. Cared for by local zoos, they came to their new Northwest Trek home in August 2018. When the …

Our newest member of the Northwest Trek family is garter snake Matcha! Garter snakes are one of Washington’s most common snake species. They typically enjoy habitats such as meadows and forests that are near water. Matcha is adjusting well to her new home, which features small logs, a pool, and plenty of vegetation she can move around and hide in. While at Northwest Trek, she can eat a varied diet of insects, earthworms, mice, slugs and even small fish. Stop by and say hi to Matcha next time you visit the Cheney Discovery Center behind Kids’ Trek!