Henry the Polar Bear Got a Giant Pumpkin and His Reaction Is Priceless
Henry the polar bear had an ordinary morning at his home in northern Ontario until caretakers brought in an oversized pumpkin. The unexpected addition broke the routine and quickly caught his attention. What followed was a straightforward, curious reaction to something completely new in his space.
A Pumpkin Bigger Than the Bear
Henry weighs about 1,200 pounds, an impressive size even for a polar bear. The pumpkin placed in his enclosure weighed roughly 1,481 pounds.
The oversized squash was an award-winning Atlantic Giant pumpkin grown by local farmer Jeff Warner of Aidie Creek Gardens, who chose to donate it instead of sending it to compost.
When the pumpkin arrived at Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat, it quickly became a spectacle for staff and visitors. Pumpkins are familiar enrichment items, but one of this scale was something entirely new.
Henry did not rush in. He circled the pumpkin, sniffed it carefully, and kept his distance. Keepers described him as unsure, even mildly defensive, which made sense given how out of place the giant orange object looked in his enclosure.
That moment of caution did not last long. Curiosity took over, and Henry began testing the pumpkin with his paws, nudging it, rolling it, and eventually biting through the thick rind. Once he realized it was food, the hesitation disappeared.
When Play Takes Over
Soon, Henry was fully committed. He smashed the pumpkin open, ripped into the crunchy flesh, and treated it like both a toy and a snack. Photos shared by the habitat show him sprawled nearby afterward, clearly content and worn out.
Pumpkins are not a nutritional staple for polar bears. They move quickly through the digestive system and do little to replace the fat-rich diet bears rely on in the wild. For caretakers, the value lies elsewhere. The pumpkin provided stimulation, exercise, and novelty.
Large, unfamiliar objects prompt the same instincts polar bears rely on in the wild. Figuring out how to move, break, or interact with something new encourages exploration and physical play. For bears living under human care, that kind of engagement helps keep both their bodies and minds active.
The timing added extra meaning because the pumpkin arrived during Polar Bear Week in early November, a period dedicated to education and awareness around polar bear conservation and the impact of climate change on Arctic habitats.
A Moment That Carried Further
Henry was not the only bear to get a seasonal treat. His companion, Ganuk, was also given a giant watermelon as part of the same enrichment effort. Moments like these highlight the care taking place at the habitat, while also pointing to the broader challenges polar bears face as sea ice continues to shrink.