Visiting Berit and Bo in the Henry Vilas Zoo

9.11.2023 by Michelle Rippey

On Friday (Nov 3rd) I visited the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, WI. This is part of the polar bear habitat where Bo & Berit call home.

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Beautiful Berit was born on Dec 28, 1998 in the Denver Zoo. She’s about to snack on pumpkin.

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Handsome Borealis (Bo) was born on Dec 9, 2018 in the Toledo Zoo. Bo arrived in the Henry Vilas Zoo November 2020

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Berit arrived in Madison (from the Cincinnati Zoo) in November 2016

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A Berit tongue out

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Oh, Berit! I see you keeping eyes on the camera!

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Looks like Bo thinks it’s time for a snack!

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Berit sees what Bo is up to…..

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Simply unBEARable behavior…..Berit cannot watch.

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Looks like Bo is ready for pool time….

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Bo loves his logs….

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Bo tossed it down in the pool….

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Of course, Bo knows the log now needs compressions.

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Beautiful Berit watching from afar. Behind Berit is the Glacier Grille, so guests can observe the polar bears while enjoying a meal.

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In June 2000 Berit moved to Cincinnati from Denver. November 2016 she moved to Henry Vilas Zoo.

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Young Bo likes to play & enjoy the pool

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Looks like Bo found a log…

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Oh, oh….what caught Berits attention?

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Here comes, Berit….

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Berit keeps on going. Perhaps she’ll take a swim on my next visit.

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Another Berit tongue out 🙂

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Bo found a bone, which is what caught Berit’s attention….

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Pool time is over for Bo. Hopefully, I will see these beautiful bears again soon.

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9 Comments

  1. Dear Michelle
    Thank you for introducing Bo
    and Berit to us, two beautiful
    polar bears with different age!
    Shure Berit is a little calmer
    as young Bo, but thats o.k. 😉
    They both look healthy and
    happy, its a nice enclosure.
    Greetings
    Chris 🙂

  2. Dear Michelle!

    What a great pleasure it was to publish this charming report from the Henry Vilas Zoo!

    Bo and Berit are lovely polar bears and I’m happy to see what a nice enclosure/s they have.

    Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful trip with the readers of this magazine – and me, too! 🙂

    Hugs from Mervi

  3. Dear Michelle and Mervi!
    Thank you for introducing Berit and Bo to us. They both look wonderful.
    Hugs
    Ludmila

  4. Dear Michelle!
    Berit and Bo are a beautiful polar bear couple. They look content and seem to have everything they need to stay busy and healthy. Berit is well prepared for the coming winter and Bo always seems to find something to do.
    Thank you for these lovely photos!

    Hugs
    Anke

  5. Dear Michelle

    I was happy to have met Berit and Bo.
    The two bears look good and happy. That’s how it’s supposed to be.
    I like the home of the two bears. It has everything a bear needs. There is also the option to roll around in the sand or grass/earth. We all know that only a dirty bear is a happy bear 😅

    Hugs,
    Anita

  6. I love keeping up with Berit, whom I visited so often in the Cincinnati Zoo. She is grandchild of Olaf and Olga, so is very special. I also love seeing how Bo is doing, the offspring of Crystal and Marty of the Toledo Zoo. These two bears just are having the best time. Thanks so much for the update.

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