Polar Bears’ Stash
Posted at 11:13 am September 17, 2007 by Kelly Murphy
When Polar Bear Plunge was built in 1996, a method for delivering live fish to the main pool on a variable schedule was included: a 10-inch diameter PVC pipe that runs underground from the fish tank behind the exhibit all the way to the front, right by the “point,” as we call it. Well, this system was good in theory but ended up having too many problems; it is now inoperable and no longer used. But the pipe is still there. Mind you, it runs directly into the pool, and therefore we are unable to access it except when we do our pool maintenance, which is about every 18 months. This pipe makes a great place for the polar bears to store things they don’t want us to have!
Yes, all three bears have a special way of communicating which is the favored item and what they don’t want taken away. I have had toys disappear for weeks before they magically reappear on exhibit somewhere. That’s the bears’ way of letting me know it’s okay to remove them now! They will also spend hours, sometimes, taking turns stuffing things inside the pipe and then digging them out and repeating this another 50 times. We have even had a whole pine tree disappear once around the holidays. It was discovered a few months later!
I share this with you because Chinook (pictured with her paw on Kalluk’s head) decided to put a twist on my morning. She had been on the main exhibit by herself overnight so I gave her a cow femur bone. She came off exhibit beautifully but the bone was nowhere to be found. Well, I had a pretty good idea where it was and I knew the other bears would find it soon enough. But this is a perfect example of not wanting to invite trouble where it isn’t needed. All three bears are still getting along well but they are still fed separately and they are still separated overnight. They may get veggies or small treats together, but we never offer the preferred foods in that type of situation.
So on a morning where I’d usually put all three bears together, I had to change things up until the bone was retrieved. It didn’t take long before Kalluk found it, and at an opportune time, I could shift him off exhibit and remove the bone. Of course, it’s important to make sure he receives lots of reinforcement for coming off as well as something just as fun when he goes back on exhibit since his “toy” had been taken away. He didn’t seem to mind because then Chinook was out with him and the play soon began.
This is just one example of why it’s important for us to maintain as much flexibility and variability as possible. We continue to try to change which bear is out when and with what other bear and for how long. This way, when those little obstacles come up, the bears are well prepared for whatever situation the day may bring.
Kelly Murphy is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Scroll to the end to leave a comment. Pinging is not allowed.
September 17th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Kelly, these ingenious polar bears keep you alert, don’t they? I’m grateful that they are in such good care with someone who is patient, and even more clever than they. When I visited the zoo last week, I noticed that the bear on exhibit had a large stash of carrots! I was amused to see it pick up one carrot and carry it about, but also curious about how they would acquire a taste for carrots since they don’t grow in the bears’ native habitat!
Love the story about the missing pine tree. Gotta smile thinking about what the bears did with it.
September 17th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Thanks Kelly for a most entertaining blog. Sounds like you and the bears had quite a morning. Brilliant on your part to use Kalluk to retrieve the bone from the pipe and then you just had to get it out of the exhibit. Granted you had to creatively get him to come inside so you could retrieve it. I had visions of you or someone else having to “dive” under to the pipe to retrieve it. He saved you the trouble.
Can you tell how they communicate to each other what is stashed in the pipe? Or do they seem to sense it by smell? That may explain why we see them “diving” repeatedly in certain areas. Where in the pool is it as you look at the viewing glass? They seem to spend a lot of time diving and retrieving toys in the right corner near the rock.
Two of them were out their this morning playing with two different toys. I think it was Chinook and Kalluk. One was on the beach “sleeping” but watching. I think that might have been Tatqiq. She would raise her head every few minutes when they would start shaking the objects in the water. It looks like they are having a blast!
What great unintended enrichment retrieving and storing items in the stash provides for the bears and the keepers!
September 17th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
I saw one of the bears this morning, in the water with what looked like a bone. I made the assumption that it was a rubber dog toy…guess I was wrong.
September 17th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
It’s approx. 12PM SD time and all three bears are in the water and playing. Has Chinook acclimated to the new dynamics of her situation? Does she seem happier and more playful? Does she seem to get a long with the other two bears equally or does she have a preference of one over the other. Thanks, Jan
September 17th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
What a CUTE pic! And an awesome blog as well, had me laughing out loud!
September 17th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Clever !! Thanxs for the story on the 3 bears !! I was looking forward to it !! And what a great pic. of Chinook and Kalluk. =)
September 17th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
What a funny story! Our bears are such a riot…so cute with their favourite toys! (I can’t believe they managed to stuff a pine tree into that pipe!!)
September 17th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
I just LOVE hearing stories about the polar bears. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule and please keep them coming. I can’t tell you how much i look forward to hearing about them.
They seem to have such unique personalities and it was very interesting to learn about the pipe and how they hide their toys from you. I just love watching them on the cam and viewing the pictures.
Thanks again
September 17th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Ah….is this why I saw so many workers around the polar bear plunge, on the livecam, this morning, with pokers and vacuums, before the bears were let out? I kept waiting for them to show up, but was curious with what was going on! Maybe now I know. Search for the bone!!
September 18th, 2007 at 9:26 am
It is September 18th, at 9:22am, Polar Bear Time, and there is one bear out on the edge eating something, with his/her legs stretched out behind them. I am curious as to which bear this is (looks darker, is it Chinook?) and what they get each morning, out on the flat rocky part? I also often see them rolling in it after they are done, like they are proud of their catch! What is so tasty each morning? I love the bears!!
September 18th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Those crazy bears! One my last visit - my friend and I spent a long time watching them play in the water. One bear, not sure which, had a large rubber ball with some type of handle on it. The bear kept stuffing the ball into a crack in the rocks - then another would try and get the ball out. They kept doing it over and over again - very funny stuff! I just think they are adorable - thanks so much for the updates. My heart just soars knowing that Chinook has some new friends - and is enjoying herself again!!
September 18th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Kelly: Thank you for your report today. I live in Rochester, NY and my husband and I visit the SanDiego Zoo every year during vacation. I also watch the Polarcam every day at work (from noon on my time!) I just wanted to share the most amazing experience I had on Saturday, Sept. 8 when we were there. Kalluk was sitting and leaning up against the glass enjoying a carrot and I was able to stand right on the other side of the glass. I was just mesmerized by how big and beautiful he is, and my husband finally had to gently tell me I was hogging the space and should let the children stand there! You are doing an amazing job trying to keep the bears happy and healthy. I can’t wait until next year to again visit but, in the meantime, I’m so thankful for the PolarCam!
September 18th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Sue, number 12, your experience and the feeling you were left with is what it is all about. To share these magnificent animals lives up close and personal for just a few minutes, leaves an impression that lasts a lifetime.
I remember visiting polar bears at the Bronx Zoo in the 1960’s and how much I enjoyed watching them. I still have a fondness for bears of all kinds largely because of my visits as a child.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:42 am
Kelly, what great mental stimulation for the bears, its their hide and seek. It is amazing to see how their minds work and how they were able to figure these things out.
September 19th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Sue # 12 - I had a similar experience - but it was during a special event at night. The keepers had put peanut butter on the glass on the inside of the exhibit as a special treat - so that the polar bears were literally standing on their hind legs - big front paws leaning on the glass - licking the peanut butter. To stand face to face - well face to bear belly - was something I will never forget. Absolutely huge paws (and teeth!) - but still the sweetest faces with big dark eyes. I wanted to be able to reach through the glass and give them a big bear hug!
September 19th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
It is 12:00pm, Polar Bear Time, and there are two bears in the Plunge, making waves and having quite a lot of fun. Is this the brother and sister? I am trying to learn to identify via cam…not an easy task! They are certainly having the time of their life and I noticed new toys, today, Stick and something that looks like an overgrown spool! I love watching them drag it around with their teeth, roll it on their stomachs, rub their faces against them and then belly flop on top of them! Life is good!!
September 19th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Terrific blog entry, with a wonderful picture. Thank you!
September 20th, 2007 at 11:07 am
Those coloured balls the bears have today are quite a hit! Since watching the PolarCam this is the first time I have seen all three bears interact so well and evenly, together, and that makes me feel good. What a wonderful sight! And belly flopping on them makes it extra fun!
September 25th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
I didn’t know that polar bears were such clowns. When I see them on tv, they seem such serious, solitary animals. Great story and picture!
September 28th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Hi Kelly, How interesting & intelligence of the bears stash their toys. I can’t always see the bears thur the cam due to time gap. Thank you for your update.
September 29th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Are my eyes deceiving me? It is 11:30am, PolarCam time and there is a brown bear in with two Polar Bears! Who is this and where did he/she come from? Dying to know!
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:44 am
From the Meet the Bears section at the Polar Cam..
Chinook
(The Stalker)
If you see a brown polar bear, it’s probably Chinook—she loves to roll in the dirt! Chinook’s favorite pastimes are napping and getting as dirty as possible.