SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. 10, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Neva, Hogle Zoo‘s female polar bear, will not be booking any appointments in the near future.
It is denning season for female polar bears, and Neva has settled in for a long winter’s nap. Male polar bear Nikita enjoys no such privilege/duty.
“Nikita and Neva, resident polar bears, have separated for the next few months while Neva enters denning season,” a Zoo statement says. “While we don’t know if Neva is pregnant, our team is supporting the polar bears’ natural reproductive seasons. Female polar bears den to provide a safe, protected environment for potentially giving birth. Key word, ‘potential’ — polar bear reproduction is complicated, and many things have to go right.”
Female polar bears experience a process called delayed implantation, the Zoo statement says.
“The bears mate in spring, but if an egg is fertilized, it doesn’t implant until fall — and only if the mother has built up enough fat to safely support herself and her future cubs through denning. There’s no pregnancy test for polar bears – since ultrasounds don’t work with their extra thick layers of fat, we can’t always be sure if a female is pregnant or experiencing a ‘pseudopregnancy,’ where she may still den even without cubs on the way.
“We’ll be here every step of the way to support Neva, no matter the outcome of this denning season.”
Keepers have worked to prepare for the denning process, “from ensuring she’s physically ready to creating her denning environment. Female polar bears gain up to a third of their body weight before denning, and with an increased diet, Neva reached her highest weight yet — 801 pounds!”
Zoo workers have transformed Neva’s den into a quiet, dark, cold space, complete with reinforced HVAC and soundproofing for minimal disruption, the Zoo statement says.
“She’s been calmly nesting and resting, showing signs she’s comfortable and confident in her space.”
While Neva stays in her den, Nikita continues training and interacting with enrichment.
“You may notice some changes in Rocky Shores, designed to support Neva’s denning process. To keep their habitats quiet and undisturbed, our teams have been entering their space less frequently for cleaning and maintenance, so you may see increased window marks.
“We continue taking this process one step at a time, remaining cautiously optimistic, and are prepared to help the bears thrive in whatever situation they show us is best for them.”
According to information from the Alaska Science Center, shared by the U.S. Geological Survey, female polar bears in the wild typically start denning in October or November, give birth to cubs in December or January, and exit dens in March or April.
