Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle recently celebrated a milestone birthday for two of its most popular residents – Fern and Juniper, the charismatic brown bear cubs affectionately known as Ferniper. The zoo marked the occasion by treating the cubs to ice cakes filled with their favorite fruit and vegetable juices, including apple, cantaloupe, carrot, blueberries, and more.
Fern and Juniper were both rescued from their native habitats as young cubs, unable to survive on their own. Born in January 2022, the bears are growing every day, with Juniper weighing in at 280 pounds and Fern at 218 pounds. Since being introduced to each other last November, the two have become the best of friends, spending most of their time playing and napping together.
According to the zoo’s bear keepers, Juniper is the resident comedian of the two, known for her goofy personality and big presence, while Fern is considered more of a thinker, confident and reserved. Visitors to the zoo can see the 1-year-old cubs daily on the Living Northwest Trail, alongside three new Canada lynx and western pond turtles.
The brown bear is an iconic species, and Juniper and Fern serve as symbols of hope for the restoration of grizzlies in the North Cascades. To learn more about the cubs and grizzly bear recovery, visit the Woodland Park Zoo’s website or follow them on social media. The zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is a must-visit for animal lovers in Seattle.
