about the refuge
Our resident Grizzly bears Grinder and Coola have entered their 22nd hibernation period on Grouse Mountain! You can follow along while they hibernate by viewing our infrared Bear Den camera.
refuge for endangered wildlife
grizzly bears, owls, and more
ranger talks
Talks by our wildlife experts are included with your Mountain Admission Ticket during the summer months.
meet the wildlife
Grouse Mountain is home to orphaned Grizzly bears, owls, and more. Learn more interesting facts about our resident Grizzly bears Grinder and Coola here.
Grinder
Grinder was found in 2001 in Invermere, BC. He was wandering alone on a logging road, dehydrated, thin, weak and weighing only 4.5 kg. His mother was never found so we’ll probably never know why he was alone. Grinder is outgoing and high-spirited. He has established himself as the dominant bear despite his smaller size. If you see Grinder and Coola play fighting, you can bet he started it.
Coola
In 2001, Coola was found orphaned on a highway near Bella Coola, BC. His mother had been killed by a truck and, of her three cubs, Coola was the only one to survive. Coola is an easygoing bear who’s content to let Grinder take the lead in new discoveries. He can usually be found submerged up to his neck in the large pond, carefully feeling around for his underwater 'bath toys' - a log, large bone and favourite rock.
owls
At Grouse Mountain we appreciate and respect wild places and wildlife. Our Refuge includes some outstanding owl ambassadors who help bring presence and reverence to their species. In the summer season, Owl Talks are hosted by one our wildlife specialists across from the Grizzly Bear Habitat every day.
Hummingbirds
Grouse Mountain is an active participant in the North American Hummingbird Monitoring Network. Our team maintains a feeding station on top of the Mountain and carries out hummingbird monitoring sessions every two weeks in the spring and summer. By carrying out this important research every year, a larger picture of hummingbird ecology, migration and behavior is being put together across North America.