Grizzly bear at CMZoo enjoys snowstorm

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Emmett the grizzly bear, a fan favorite at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo), is probably enjoying the recent snowfall more than most of us who have to shovel it and plow through it.

CMZoo sent FOX21 News a video of Emmett relaxing in the snow and eating snowflakes. You can watch this cute video below:

In the video, Emmett is seen lying in deep snow, occasionally licking snowflakes from the air.

CMZoo said grizzly bears are native to the Rocky Mountain Region but are not found in the wilds of Colorado. CMZoo explained that their fluffy fur and the extra weight they gain before winter help them stay warm at the zoo, as well as having access to shelters and dry, comfortable bedding. Contrary to popular belief, grizzly bears in the wild do not hibernate, CMZoo said. So it’s not that strange that Emmett is outside enjoying the fluffy white snow.

Emmett and his roommate Digger have been at CMZoo since 2007, when they were about two or three years old. Both bears were labeled “nuisance” bears after several negative encounters with humans before being removed from the wild.

CMZoo said nuisance bears often aren’t as lucky as these two, and are euthanized or relocated when they get a few “attacks.” Instead of this fate, Emmett and Digger arrived at Rocky Mountain Wild at CMZoo; Here they lived an active and comfortable life, free from the temptations that got them into trouble in the wilderness. They help guests learn how to keep wild bears wild by picking up trash and storing food safely in bear country.

“Bears and other large animals enter winter torpor, a hormonal, physiological and behavioral change triggered by the changing seasons,” the Zoo explained. “In torpor, body systems slow down and animals can sleep more, but they still wake up. In summer and fall, our grizzly bears want to eat, eat, eat.”

The Zoo said bears are generally less interested in food and have less energy when the weather gets colder, but they are still active at the zoo, so you can visit Emmett and Digger every day. The Zoo is open year-round, 365 days a year.

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