Grizzly bears are seasonally active, awake for part of the year and asleep for part of the year. To conserve energy, they hibernate during the winter months. They put on massive amounts of weight before retreating into winter dens where they live off of stored fat. While hibernating, a grizzly bear’s body temperature drops by a few degrees, its heart rate slows, and the bear does not eat, drink, urinate, or defecate. As spring returns, the bears’ activity increases slowly.

Read updates below on grizzly sisters Nova and Nita beginning to show signs of hibernation for the winter.

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UPDATE #1 – October 26, 2022

As the weather cools, grizzly bears Nova & Nita are starting to slow down and pack on weight—both signs of preparation for hibernation! The sisters will be viewable intermittently throughout the coming days until they fully bed down for winter.