Bears' Small Habitat Motivates New Exhibit at the Pocatello Zoo

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Story Published: Oct 28, 2007 at 4:51 PM MST

Story Updated: Nov 7, 2008 at 12:13 PM MST

By Jeff Robinson

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Poor living conditions for the two grizzly bears at the Pocatello zoo have motivated officials to build them a new living area.

The Pocatello Zoological Society's kicked off a campaign to $2.5 million, so the bears won't be behind bars anymore.

"We, for so many years, have been dealing with this the best we can, and doing the best we can with it, but if we want to progress as a zoo, and really do the right and most ethical thing for these animals, we need a new exhibit," said Zookeeper Krishna Strong.

And if the money can be raised, that new exhibit will be on a nearly one acre site above the zoo, where you'd be able to watch the bears roam from behind glass, not bars.

"The rangers are gonna keep you pretty far away from the bears in Yellowstone, whereas you're gonna be able to go pretty much nose-to-nose with the bears at the new exhibit," said Education Coordinator Kate O'Connor.

32-year-old Charlie is very old for a grizzly bear. Right now, his arthritis, thanks in part to the concrete floors, can prevent him from climbing the steps to the cramped den area.

"He does not, sometimes, have the ambition to make it all the way up here to this den, which is really his only form of shelter," said Strong.

But with the new exhibit, he'd be able to get a good night's sleep after fishing for his food during the day.

"This view in particular will give us a view of the bears, in kind of what their natural habitat would be for this area," said O'Connor.

So far, the society's raised more than $700,000.

The grizzly exhibit is part of a larger expansion that would also include a prairie dog exhibit and new homes for the eagles and bobcats.

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