The birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and the sun is shining. But there’s so much more that points to Spring at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park.
CHESTNUT IS AWAKE
In early March, Chestnut the hoary marmot came out of his underground hibernation den. Guests can now see him running around his habitat. Before Chestnut went into hibernation in December, he weighed around 10 pounds. Now, he weighs about 8.5 pounds. Hoary marmots eat vast amounts of meadow vegetation, including sedges and lupine. In the wild, the thick layers of fat they develop allow them to survive eight to nine months of hibernation each year.
GRIZZLY BEARS ARE OUT OF TORPOR
The grizzly bears are also waking up from their winter snoozes! Huckleberry and Hawthorne were recently seen wrestling in their habitat. The rescued bears spend their days relaxing in nature, playing together, and splashing around their pool.
MOUNTAIN GOATS ARE SHEDDING
Don’t worry, it’s not just a bad hair day! Warmer weather means the mountain goats have started to shed their winter coats.
ANTLERS ARE DROPPING
Out in the 435-acre Free-Roaming Area, the bull (male) elk are dropping their antlers—a yearly occurrence that happens a few months after breeding season due to a decrease in testosterone. Guests can see the Roosevelt elk in the Free-Roaming Area by booking a Wild Drive or Keeper Adventure Tour.
