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Veterinarian Ken Macquiesten says the emotions come in waves as he thinks of Grinder, the grizzly cub that he cared for and watched become a majestic giant over the past 25 years.
“I’ve held Grinder in my hands and been able to pick him up and, and then today, very sad day, was able to say goodbye to him,” said Macquiesten, director of Grouse Mountain Wildlife Refuge.
Grinder died on Friday.
The bear was an enormous, 25-year-old grizzly from Invermere, B.C. It was found as an orphaned, starving cub on a logging road in 2001, before being taken to live in the Grouse Mountain Wildlife Refuge. Grinder was often seen with another bear called Coola, known as his companion.
Grinder and Coola take a peek before emerging from their man-made den atop Grouse Mountain, near Vancouver. (Devin Manky/Grouse Mountain Resort)
“He did enjoy his honey right up to the end,” said Macqueisten. “He got a chance to say goodbye to Coola, and Coola had a chance to say goodbye to him.”
Macqueisten said that for the first time since hibernating in the refuge in 2001, Grinder was “appearing stiff” coming out of the den earlier this year.
Grinder’s left hind leg had a limp, which stemmed from a spinal issue, its care team found.
“It very quickly over the last several days developed to the point that he just was not even able to stand and use his hind legs at all,” Macquiesten said.
A statement from Grouse Mountain resort said the decision was made to provide Grinder with a humane passing, “after seeing no realistic path to recovery or return to acceptable quality of life.”
Over the years, countless tourists have come to visit Grinder and Coola at the wildlife refuge.
“Alongside fellow rescued grizzly bear Coola, [Grinder] helped educate guests from around the world about grizzly bears and the importance of protecting wildlife,” Grouse Mountain wrote in a statement.
Macquiesten said he was pleased that visitors were able to get “really close” to the bears in their environment.
“These bears could care less that you’re here or not,” he said. “They’re going to do whatever they wanted that day. And we get to witness and watch them.”
Last summer, children from Squamish First Nation played a traditional song with drums at the refuge, coaxing out the bears who were curious about the music.
WATCH | Squamish First Nation kids play a Grizzly Bear Song for Grinder and Coola:
Young musicians go viral after coaxing grizzlies with their Grizzly Bear Song
A group of young First Nations drummers from the Squamish Nation is in the spotlight after a video of them singing to a pair of grizzly bears, in the bears’ habitat on Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver, went viral.
“I thought it was kind of supernatural,” said Stanley Harry, a drummer of the Proud Little Warriors, at the time.
Grinder was smaller than Coola but proved to be the more dominant bear, with Coola often following along.
Macquiesten said Grinder was “the leader in everything he did,” and the one to dig itself out of the hibernation den through a snow bank every year.
If you see Grinder and Coola wrestling, you can bet Grinder started it, Grouse Mountain Resort spokeswoman Darlene Small says. (Devin Manky/Grouse Mountain Resort)
After a quarter-century caring for Grinder and Coola, Macquiesten said grizzlies are much like humans — intelligent creatures, planning their lives and finding ways to be successful in their environment.
“They’re so much like us,” he said.