Pumpkins for polar bears a treat at zoo’s Spooktacular Halloween

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This article was published 29/10/2020 (1421 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Many children won’t be dragging home pillowcases filled with candy this Halloween, but the stomachs of polar bears and other animals at Assiniboine Park Zoo will be full thanks to a twist on handing out the holiday treats.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, zoo officials decided they couldn’t provide candy safely at its annual Halloween Spooktacular event in compliance with provincial public health orders. Instead, it is giving treats to their animals from Oct. 29-31.

“Usually we have some kind of trick-or-treating for kids where they can go to various stations around the zoo, wear their costumes and pick up little treats,” said Laura Cabak, Assiniboine Park Conservancy’s communications and public relations manager.

Visitors are still welcomed and costumes are encouraged. But the animals are the big winners when it comes to treats, through an initiative called enrichment. Cabak said it stimulates the animal’s senses when a novel food item, such as a pumpkin, is placed in their habitat. Enrichment is an important part of the zoo’s animal care program.

“If you come to the zoo and walk around, you’ll hopefully get to see some of the animals enjoying their treats. Polar bears are often fun, they’re pretty destructive with a pumpkin. Some of the others will be a little more cautious and take their time with it.”

The Spooktacular event has been a feature at the zoo in recent years. The facility switched to a day Halloween event after it stopped holding Boo at the Zoo seven years ago.

Some Winnipeg families are opting out of trick-or-treating this year due to the pandemic; instead, they’re bringing their kids to the zoo.

“We felt this was safer and it got the kids out in their costume,” said Michelle Duval, who was at the zoo Thursday afternoon with her two children. “It makes them feel like they’re doing something. They were looking forward to Halloween for a whole year, but unfortunately we can’t do much.” 

“I think it’s great the zoo is putting this on for those who can’t get out and don’t want to go trick-or-treating. It’s a nice option for us, so we’ll take advantage of it. The kids are still having a lot of fun.”

Playing with orange pumpkins might be unique for polar bears — so too is being watched by purple dragons. Dave Benson’s two granddaughters, Grace and Roseanna and the two dragons in question, were enjoying their Halloween visit to the zoo Thursday afternoon. Benson said it’s important to get outside as much as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, before the cold winter weather makes it harder.

Benson added the family will be celebrating Halloween from home this year.

“They were already talking about how they’re going to have a safe Halloween… it won’t be door-to-door,” he said. “We have a yard we can go to that has lots of space and they’ve been decorating the space for about two weeks already.”

Benson said they are already hiding candy in the yard, so his three-year-old and five-year-old granddaughters can scavenge for Halloween candy, much like an Easter egg hunt, on Saturday. 

kellen.taniguchi@freepress.mb.ca