Let’s clear up two misconceptions.

Number 1:  The Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat does not close for the winter.

Number 2:  Polar bears do not hibernate.  In fact, animal care staff member Amy Baxendell says they’re wide awake all winter.

”This is their type of weather.  With the snow and the cooler weather, they’re very active with one another.  We have three males that all co-exist together, so they spend a lot of time wrestling and sparring.”

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Baxendell says visiting Ganuk, Inukshuk and Henry at the Habitat this time of year is a nice day out… and there are two keeper talks a day.

“So we go down and school the public about our bears and about bears in general,” says Baxendell. “We provide lots of information, answer any questions that people have got, so yeah, come down and visit us.”

Photo credit: polarbearhabitat.ca

Photo credit: polarbearhabitat.ca

The Polar Bear Habitat is open right through the holiday season, except on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, and only between 10:00am and noon on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

More information is available at https://polarbearhabitat.ca. That’s also where you can watch the four live webcams in the polar bear enclosures.