The Boss is back! Back to Banff National Park that is. Of course, we are talking about the biggest, boldest bear around who just woke up from hibernation and has been spotted for the first time this season.
He’s out ready to eat and, soon enough, find a mate (or several). In fact, the clip tells us, he’s fathered about 50% of the cubs who live in the park. Let that one sink in for a minute.
It’s easy to see why Bear 122 (The Boss’ official designation) owns the place. This large-and-in-charge beastie is a huge and very handsome grizzly. The caption gives us another interesting tidbit, “The Boss is up early this year. In 2025, the first confirmed Boss sighting was around April 7, according to Parks Canada.” He got out of bed a week early and is ready to start his year.
Nothing better summed up the video than @Shnump with, “He even walks like a boss.” It’s undeniable. Meanwhile, @westforrest had a different take, “He’s so cute.” Also correct. Numerous posters commented on his size like @warriors come out to play who noted, “Damn, he’s a big boy!” and @Kaylynn who pointed out, “This is right after hibernation! Just imagine his size before his big snooze.” How many pounds did he lose? We’ve got the answers.
Related: Moment Rescued Bear Family Takes First Steps Outside Has Us Crying Happy Tears
Why do bears hibernate?
The basic premise isn’t complicated: When there’s less food in the winter, bears sleep deeply so they don’t need to eat or drink. Otherwise, they would have to somehow find about 90 pounds of food per day all season. Instead of straining the ecosystem, they go down for a long nap.
In order to rest so long without eating, bears have a couple of methods for making it through. First, their body temperature drops ten degrees or so, meaning they need less energy. Additionally, they burn through all the fat they stored up during the fall. Between these two strategies, they go until spring. In the coldest parts of Alaska, a grizzly might sleep seven months out of the year!
So how much weight did The Boss lose over the winter? He probably dropped about 30% of his body mass. Males can weigh up to 1500 pounds, which means he could be nearly 500 down. We can’t wait to see him bulked up in a few months!
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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Apr 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.