In these scary and stressful times, thank goodness for small wonders, such as the sight of a grizzly bear emerging from its snow-covered den after a long winter nap.
The accompanying footage, captured at the Grizzly Bear Refuge in British Columbia, Canada, shows a bear named Boo poking his head through the snow to rediscover the bright and glistening universe above ground.
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“Eight years it took me to catch this moment!” exclaims a gleeful Nicole Gangnon, who manages the facility in Golden, B.C. “Yeah! Hello… Oh, my big boy, momma’s so proud of you!”
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Boo, looking groggy as he ends his months-long hibernation, is the star attraction of the 20-acre refuge at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.
He and his brother, Cari, were orphaned in 2002 after their mother was killed by a poacher. Sadly, Cari died of intestinal problems in 2004.
According to the Kicking Horse website, “Boo hunts, plays, forages, and explores just like his wild cousins.”
The Grizzly Bear Refuge is billed as the world’s largest enclosed and protected grizzly bear habitat. Because of its vastness, guests are not guaranteed a Boo sighting but can return free of charge if they do not see the bear.
Viewers can click here to enjoy images of Boo captured over the years.
–Images are courtesy of the Grizzly Bear Refuge at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort