17.2.2026 by Pat Waldron
It’s grumpy season at YWP and, as such, I can only imagine it’s a bit of a headache for the keepers moving seven bears around. The only bears sharing an enclosure on my recent visit on the 7th of February was Nobby & Hamish.
Nobby minding his own business …
… when he heard Hamish coming.
Nobby keeping an eye on Hamish.
As Hamish approached, Nobby lowered his head.
Hamish walks past Nobby.
Cheeky Hamish checks on Nobby.
Hamish
Yorkshire Wildlife Park on the 5th of February: We have six male polar bears, and their hormones still run wild during breeding season, and sometimes there is a scuffle. Young Yuma got some wounds after a fight with Luka.
Luka didn’t mean any harm …
… but those bl…y hormones are playing games with me and my friends.
Sorry, Yuma! I hope we can soon be friends again!
Indie usually shares an enclosure with brother Yuma and Luka, but after their little tête-à-tête last week, he is by himself until things settle down.
Liebe Pat,
Liebe Mervi,
Der Hormonüberschuss wirkt sich scheinbar auch auf den Zugang ins Magazine aus, denn tagsüber war kein Zugang möglich.
Vielleicht sollte man den Bären zum Abreagieren ihres Testeronüberschusses je einen Eisbär- Dummi ins Gehege stellen, damit sie ihre überschüssige Kraft abreagieren können ?
Für die Pfleget ist das auch immer eine sehr anstrengende und auch gefährliche Zeit, um die Bären unter Kontrolle zu halten.
Wie lange hält diese Phase in etwa an oder ist das von Bär zu Bär verschieden?
Danke Pat für deinen Bericht und liebe Grüße!
Britta-Gudrun
Dear Pat!
Thank you for your update from Yorkshire!
The hormonal emotional turmoil of the polar bears during mating season at the beginning of the year is delicate in the all-male groups and difficult for the keepers, who have to be very careful. I wonder if it is easier to handle and this period shorter because there are no females around? I hope that the bears
— and keepers — get through this time well and unharmed!
Hugs
Anke
Dear Pat!
It is a difficult time for the keepers. I hope the bears will go through this time without injuries.
Hugs
Ludmila
In der HOFFNUNG, dass dies kein Zustand von Dauer sein wird, die Hormone nicht mehr allzu lange für Unstimmigkeiten zwischen den “guten Freunden” sorgen,bald wieder Friede und Freude bei den Eisbären einkehren wird, schreibe ich dieses Dankeschön an Pat…🐻❄️🐻❄️🐻❄️🐻❄️🐻❄️🐻❄️🐻❄️❤✊