Calgary Zoo says grizzly habitat closure unrelated to August escape

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal News Calgary Zoo says grizzly habitat closure unrelated to August escape The Calgary Zoo informed visitors that the grizzlies will be off-view from Sept. 8 to 18 due to planned habitat work. Author of the article: By Devon Dekuyper Published Sep 10, 2026 Last updated 7 hours ago 1 minute read Join the conversation Fitz and Turner, two orphaned grizzly bear cubs, wrestle in their new enclosure at The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo on May 21, 2026. Dean Pilling/Postmedia file Article content A temporary closure of the Calgary Zoo’s grizzly habitat is not related to an escape by one of its cubs last month, the zoo says. Article content In a Wednesday post to social media, the Calgary Zoo informed visitors that the grizzlies will be off-view from Sept. 8 to 18 due to planned habitat work. Article content Article content A spokesperson for the zoo confirmed Thursday that the habitat work is unrelated to the incident last month, in which one-year-old cub Fitz managed to escape his habitat in the early hours of Aug. 16. Article content Article content Fitz was discovered during regular morning rounds prior to the zoo’s opening. Emergency protocols were activated, and zoo staff managed to return the bear to his back-of-house space without incident. Article content Noon News Roundup Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content The current closure, however, is to accommodate regularly scheduled maintenance. Article content “Safety and security improvements to the habitat were completed by Aug. 28,” the zoo’s spokesperson said in an emailed statement Thursday. Article content “This included strengthening existing fencing and adding a new 90-degree overhang to the top of the fence.” Article content The giraffe habitat will also be temporarily closed next week, with maintenance to the Savannah building’s fabric doors being completed from Sept. 15 to 17. Article content Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet. TRENDING Canada looks to Ukraine's drone expertise as Carney, Zelenskyy deepen defence ties at Calgary meeting Ukraine leader Zelenskyy visits Calgary to discuss drone production, build up Canada’s defence…