Detroit Zoo Mourns Death of Mike, a 13 Year Old Grizzly Bear

Mike and his brothers, Boo and Thor, were rescued in 2011 after being orphaned in the Alaskan wild. They later moved to the Detroit Zoo, where they grew up together and formed a unique bond that stole the hearts of many.

After thriving at the Zoo for more than a decade, Mike began exhibiting symptoms of discomfort and started having a lower appetite than usual earlier this year. Eventually, he became unable to rise from a lying posture. We implemented intensive care and monitoring and consulted with outside veterinary neurologists to initiate several new treatments, but no improvements were seen. Mike’s health continued to decline in his final days.

After exhausting all options and continuing to see a decline in his quality of life, the team made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize him. These decisions are always hard, but we take comfort in knowing that Mike was loved and provided with the highest level of care during his lifetime. The veterinary team is working to understand the underlying causes behind Mike’s condition, and a necropsy is scheduled for today; we expect to see the results in the coming weeks.

Mike was a truly special bear. Though described as reserved, he enjoyed playtime and his favorite treats, such as yogurt and peanut butter crackers. On warm days, Mike could be seen with his brothers soaking in the shallow end of their pool in the habitat.

Mike was loved by all who knew him, and he will be dearly missed. This is an incredibly difficult time for his longtime caretakers, who are devastated by his loss.

Animal well-being remains our top priority, and we continue to monitor Mike’s brothers, Boo and Thor, and provide them with the best care.”

Learn more about the Detroit Zoo at https://detroitzoo.org/