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Minnesota Zoo Grizzly Bears to Offer Smashing Good Time
“Sadie,” “Kenai,” and “Haines” will celebrate Halloween with giant pumpkins

Apple Valley, MINN – October 31, 2012 – The three grizzly bears at the Minnesota Zoo, “Sadie,” “Kenai,” and “Haines” will get a great Halloween treat this morning – giant pumpkins! Their curiosity toward them will (likely) lead to a smashing fest.

Pumpkins are just one form of enrichment for Minnesota Zoo animals. Animals in zoos have different opportunities for physical and mental stimulation than wild animals, so zookeepers provide them with objects or changes to their environment that will stimulate the behaviors of healthy wild animals. Enrichment gives animals new things to think about, encourages exercise, and gives them a degree of control of their environment by giving them choices. Zookeepers provide different types of enrichment to stimulate all of the senses and encourage a wide range of natural behaviors.  Categories of enrichment include foods and feeding, sensory, novel objects, environmental, and behavioral/social.

The grizzly bears are located along Russia’s Grizzly Coast.

The Minnesota Zoo is located in Apple Valley, just minutes south of Mall of America. For more information, call 952.431.9500 or visit mnzoo.org. The Minnesota Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and an institutional member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).