Grizzly Bear
Mistaya and Koda are awake!
Waking Up Slowly: When bears come out of torpor, their digestive systems take time to reactivate. In the wild, bears start by eating plants and greens to help restart the gut bacteria needed for healthy digestion.
Tailored Nutrition: At the zoo, we work closely with a professional nutritionist to guide this process. Mistaya and Koda have over 18 different diet plans specifically designed for this period—from leafy greens to eventually over 5 kg of meat per day. Their meals are adjusted, sometimes daily, to meet their unique nutritional needs as they regain strength and energy.
Daily, Dedicated Care: A dedicated animal care expert spends 4–6 hours each day with the bears, building trust and supporting both their physical and mental wellbeing.
Enrichment & Engagement: We’ve introduced new enrichment items to keep them mentally stimulated and physically active, especially important as they transition out of their slower torpor phase.
Natural Behaviors Encouraged: Because Mistaya and Koda were orphaned and did not learn wild behaviors from other bears, we create opportunities for them to explore, forage and demonstrate their natural instincts in a safe, supportive environment.
Big Plans Ahead: We're also working closely with the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation to design and build a brand-new, enhanced exhibit space that will give them more room and greater variety to explore.
Veterinary Support: Koda is under ongoing veterinary care to manage concerns like his eyes and stereotypical behaviors, and our team is constantly adjusting his care to support his overall health.
From the moment they wake in spring to their most active summer days, our goal is to provide Mistaya and Koda with a life full of comfort, stimulation and care. Thank you for supporting our efforts to give these incredible animals the best life possible!
Diet: Their diet includes moose, elk, caribou, deer, sheep, bison, salmon, trout, bass, birds, rodents, nuts, tubers, fruits, ground squirrels and small mammals.
Height: 198 to 240 cm; stands 102 cm tall at the shoulder.
Weight: Males weigh between 139 to 400 kg and females weigh between 95 to 250 kg.
Lifespan: Grizzly bears live 22-26 years in the wild, and up to 40 years in zoos.
Fun Facts
- The claws of a grizzly bear can be up to 10 cm (4 in) long. They are used for hunting, digging and gripping prey.
- Grizzly bears go through a mild form of hibernation called torpor. During this time, their heart rate slows down to as low as 8 beats per minute. They do not eat, drink, defecate or urinate during torpor.
- Though they look big, heavy, and lumbering, they can really hustle, hitting speeds up to 56 km per hour for short bursts.
About Us
If you catch them on the right day, you may see grizzly bears Koda and Mistaya wrestling, digging or playing in their pond at the Kinsmen Bear Exhibit. The habitat has been home to the pair since 2008.
Mistaya is the sole surviving cub from Bear 66 who died in Banff National Park in 2005. He stayed in the wild until it became clear that he could not survive without intervention. Koda was an orphaned cub from the Jasper area who was rescued and nurtured by zookeepers at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. The cubs were paired at the Calgary Zoo and later transferred to their permanent home in Saskatoon.
Learn more about grizzly bears Mistaya and Koda!
Conservation & Research Initiatives
Can concentrations of steroid hormones in brown bear hair reveal age class?