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 …

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, …

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 …

Summer is in full swing, and temperatures can soar. Here’s what Northwest Trek Wildlife Park keepers do to help the animals beat the heat. The river otters, badgers, skunks, and beavers enjoy fruit, goat milk, or popsicles. Many animals also have additional air conditioning or fans in their behind-the-scenes bedrooms. The wolves have misters around their habitat and a fan in their den, and they also receive whole prey popsicles.  All the cats, like the lynx, bobcats, and cougars, get goat’s milk popsicles. The black bears and grizzly bears enjoy fish-sicles and splashing in their pools. Birds such as the …

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. MASON BEES START POLLINATING EARLY SPRING BLOOMS Mason bees begin to hatch when the weather consistently reaches temperatures above 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit. As the temperatures rise, these bees emerge to pollinate early spring-blooming native plants such as currants, Oregon grape, and salmonberry. Northwest Trek has two mason bee hotels that provide homes for hundreds of mason bees each spring. Watch for these gentle pollinators as they help around the park. GRIZZLY BEARS ARE OUT …

The word “enrichment” is said dozens of times a day around Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. As in, “we have the enrichment ready for the otters” or “Luna and Calli the moose really seemed to enjoy their enrichment today” or “we need to create the beavers’ enrichment this afternoon.” Providing enriching experiences is a vital part of providing high-quality animal care at Northwest Trek- but what exactly is enrichment? “Enrichment items are things like food, smells or toys that enhance the health and well-being of the animals in our care,” said Haley, animal keeper and coordinator of the Behavioral Husbandry Committee …

 “It’s your turn tomorrow!” Northwest Trek head veterinarian Dr. Allison Case called to Hawthorne the grizzly bear. While exploring his outdoor habitat, Hawthorne was peeking inside his den, curiously watching as keepers and veterinary staff circled around his bear buddy Huckleberry, who was anesthetized in the den, ready for his triannual wellness exam. Only a few more nudges were at the den door before Hawthorne was distracted by giant treats left just for him. “I’m going to need a few people to help me move Huckleberry!” called out Dr. Case. Instead of Huckleberry going to the vet, the vet goes to …

Grizzly bears Hawthorne and Huckleberry were in for a treat — if they could find the fruit and other yummy morsels hiding in their habitat. Three teens from the Nisqually Indian Tribe helped two zookeepers at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park hide enrichment goodies throughout the wooded grizzly bear habitat on a sunny afternoon. The two bears snorted in excitement while waiting for the tasty hunt. The teens and keepers hid some moose antlers for play and filled a puzzle-feeder with food for a stimulating challenge. It’s not every day you get this close and personal with grizzly bears, much less …

The animals at Northwest Trek are getting into the Independence Day spirit with red, white, and blue enrichment items! Northwest Trek is OPEN July 4. Guests can see animals native to the Pacific Northwest, like patriotic bald eagles, majestic gray wolves, and mighty grizzly bears. Oh, my stars! River otters Oakley and Blakely enjoy frozen fish treats. Slither and stripes! Matcha, the garter snake, glides through patriotic pom poms. Grizzly bears Hawthorne and Huckleberry devour frozen berries and fish in their own kind of firecracker popsicles. Northwest Trek is open daily 9:30am-5pm.

They are well-rested and wide awake from their winter naps. That’s right: the grizzly bears and black bears at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park are energized and back in action! GRIZZLY BEARS HAWTHORNE AND HUCKLEBERRY  The grizzly “brothers” are playful and can often be seen splashing in their 7-foot-deep pool, wrestling one another, head-butting and searching for hidden treats their keepers have left for them. 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 arrived at …