Grizzly bear escape at Calgary Zoo: One-year-old Fitz briefly leaves habitat, is immobilized
One-year-old grizzly Fitz briefly escaped his habitat in a grizzly bear escape at the Calgary Zoo on Sunday, prompting emergency protocols and a temporary closure of the Wild Canada exhibit. Zoo staff said the bear exited his habitat shortly before routine opening and was quickly immobilized and moved to a secure back-of-house area. No injuries were reported to visitors, staff or the animal, and the zoo reopened most areas to the public after an on-site assessment. City emergency services and the Calgary Police Service attended but were not required to intervene beyond perimeter support.
Timeline of the escape and initial actions
The Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo reported that Fitz exited his habitat at approximately 7:30 a.m., before the zoo’s full opening to the public. Staff immediately activated established emergency response procedures involving Animal Care, Health & Welfare and Security teams.
Within minutes of the alarm, trained personnel located Fitz, administered immobilizing agents and relocated him to a secure back-of-house space while a safety perimeter remained in place. The zoo said those steps were taken to minimize risk to guests, staff and the animal while allowing an orderly assessment of the scene.
Immobilization and animal welfare procedures
Zoo officials emphasized that animal welfare guided every step of the response, with veterinary staff overseeing the immobilization. Fitz was monitored throughout the procedure and received veterinary attention in the back-of-house area to ensure his safe recovery.
The zoo’s statement said the action was standard protocol for an animal that has left its habitat, and that teams took care to reduce stress and physical risk to the young grizzly. The Wilder Institute reiterated that trained professionals carried out the response and that no procedures beyond immobilization and relocation were necessary.
Wild Canada exhibit closure and visitor experience
The Calgary Zoo opened to the public shortly after 9 a.m., but staff kept the Wild Canada area closed while they completed a detailed inspection of the exhibit and surrounding guest spaces. Guests in other parts of the facility were able to continue their visits, and Wild Canada reopened to visitors around noon after teams satisfied safety checks.
Zoo management said the decision to close the exhibit temporarily was precautionary and intended to allow a thorough assessment of any potential vulnerabilities. Visitors who arrived during the closure were assisted by staff and offered information on alternate experiences while Wild Canada was unavailable.
Police and emergency services role at the scene
Calgary Police Service confirmed officers were called to the zoo around 7:45 a.m. to provide support after zoo staff reported a bear had left its enclosure. Officers remained outside the facility and were not required to enter the zoo or provide direct assistance, the service said in an email.
City of Calgary emergency response teams also attended and stood by as part of the coordinated safety response. Zoo officials thanked the responding agencies for their readiness and said the incident was managed without escalation or the need for external intervention.
Investigation into how the grizzly exited its habitat
As of Monday, zoo officials had not publicly identified how Fitz managed to leave his habitat and said teams are reviewing the circumstances as part of established procedures. The Wilder Institute indicated an internal review is underway and that further information will be released when investigators have a clearer picture.
The assessment is expected to include a review of enclosure infrastructure, animal handling protocols and any situational factors present in the hours before the escape. Zoo leadership said their priority is to understand the sequence of events and to implement any changes needed to prevent a recurrence.
Safety assurances and organizational response
The Calgary Zoo reiterated that safety of staff, volunteers, guests and animals remained its top priority throughout the response and review. Management said routine emergency drills and the presence of specially trained Animal Care and Security teams helped secure a swift resolution.
Officials also noted that public-facing operations resumed once teams completed checks and were confident it was safe to reopen Wild Canada. The zoo has committed to sharing additional findings with the public following the conclusion of the internal review.
The young grizzly Fitz remained in the care of zoo veterinarians while staff completed documentation and follow-up welfare checks, and the zoo invited members of the public to await further updates before drawing conclusions about cause or responsibility.
