Golden, B.C. resort's popular grizzly, Boo, emerges from hibernation

A popular bear has come out of hibernation at a resort in Golden, B.C., suggesting spring has sprung a week in advance.

But some experts say while a warmer winter has possibly influenced Boo's awakening on Monday, he is technically right on time.

The 22-year-old grizzly has been in a 22-acre enclosure at the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort — 262 kilometres west of Calgary — since 2003, after his mother was illegally shot by a hunter.

Dominique de Vries, team lead of the Grizzly Bear Refuge at the resort, said Boo usually decides to come out in mid-march, although “he still will return to his den; he's still pretty sleepy and groggy.”

She added that temperature and snowpack changes are usually determining factors for when bears come out of their dens.

“It has been a fairly warm year over here in Golden.”

Kim Titchener, president of Bear Safety & More Inc., said the changing climate is having an effect on bear behaviour.

“With climate change, we are seeing bears emerging from their dens earlier and going to bed later,” Titchener said, adding that studies are being conducted into the sleep patterns of grizzlies.

Alysa Pederson, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said with warmer-than-normal temperatures, it's no surprise that Boo has made an appearance this week.

“If you look at the forecast, you'll see Calgary warming up for this weekend — seven degrees today, but 16 degrees by Friday, right through the weekend. We're currently seeing 20 degrees on Monday.”

But by mid-next week, there will be a cool-down and likely some snow across much of the central part of the province and into the south.