Grouse Mountain's famous grizzly bear Grinder dies at 25

Grinder watches spectators from his enclosure on Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver in May 2005. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG

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One of Grouse Mountain’s resident grizzly bears has died.

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Grinder, who was rescued as an orphaned cub 25 years ago and raised at Grouse Mountain, along with fellow rescued grizzly bear Coola, was diagnosed with an irreversible spinal condition that led to a permanent paralysis of his hind limbs, said the resort.

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The condition had caused Grinder’s mobility to deteriorate rapidly. With no realistic chance of recovery or a return to an acceptable quality of life, the “difficult” decision was made to euthanize Grinder.

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“Saying goodbye to Grinder is heartbreaking for all of us, and it is a decision that was made with the utmost care and consideration for the grizzly bear millions of people have come to know and love,” said Dr. Ken Macquisten, director and veterinarian at Grouse Mountain Wildlife Refuge, in a news release on Friday.

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“It has been a privilege for our team to care for Grinder over the past 25 years, and while we will miss him deeply, we take comfort in knowing his legacy will live on through his impact as an ambassador for wildlife conservation.”

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Grizzly bears can live to be 20 to 30 years old in the wild, although most die at a younger age.

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Grinder came to Grouse Mountain in 2001 after being found as an orphaned cub in Invermere.

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Throughout the years, he and Coola have become one of the resort’s most recognizable and beloved residents, helping educate guests about grizzly bears and wildlife protection.

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The bears’ awakening from winter hibernation has become an annual rite viewed by fans around the world on the resort’s webcams.

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Last November, Grinder entered the den with Coola for what would be his final winter hibernation. He weighed 440 kilograms, or 970 pounds, and Coola weighed 465 kilograms or 1,025 pounds. The pair emerged in April after 144 days of hibernation.

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Coola, who also arrived in 2001 from Bella Coola, is healthy and is doing well, said Grouse Mountain.

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After Grinder’s death, the female bear was given “supervised access” to Grinder before her longtime companion was removed from the habitat, a practice many accredited zoos observe to help animals with the loss of a partner.

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More to come …

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