Veterinarians humanely euthanized a 24-year-old male grizzly bear at Northwest Trek last week after an emergency examination revealed a significant amount of fluid and a large tumor in the animal's abdomen. Donna Powell, deputy director of Northwest Trek, said the bear had lived at the wildlife park since its bear exhibits opened in 1993. The 750-pound grizzly lived beyond the median life expectancy of abou 22 years for male brown bears. Officials said veterinarians had been monitoring the bear's condition for several weeks and began diagnostic tests and initiated treatment after the bear became lethargic. The bear was euthanized Sept. 30 when its condition worsened. Veterinarians determined a successful surgery or recovery from the illness was unlikely, said Dr. Allison Case. A necropsy, or animal autopsy, showed the cancer had spread to other organs. The male grizzly and its sister, who remains at Northwest Trek, were among the original inhabitants of the wildlife park's bear exhibits. The lushly forested grizzly bear exhibit contains a stream and waterfall and rambles over about an acre of land. "We are all saddened by the loss of this magnificent animal," Powell said. "Many who visited Northwest Trek as children have returned as adults to introduce the bear to their own kids. We have heavy hearts." Grizzly bears are endangered in Washington and are listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act. Thousands of the powerful animals once roamed vast areas of the west from the Pacific Ocean to the Great Plains. Their range now encompasses remote areas of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska and southwestern Canada. Powell said Northwest Trek's grizzlies have been ambassadors for their species, giving visitors the opportunity to see a brown bear up close and learn more about bears through observation. In addition to the remaining grizzly, Trek has two 6-year-old black bears, a brother and sister, who arrived last spring from a zoo in Kansas.
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