Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat — Attraction in Cochrane

Overall, I had a really great experience at the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat. Though we only got to see two of the bears, it was nice just to be able to SEE them in person. You honestly just freeze when you see such a magnificent animal and suddenly, you feel so small. You can tell they are being well fed though, I dont think i've ever seen polars bears that chubby in my life 😂

We were given a park map when we first walked in and when I was looking at the map there were 4 enclosures. The 3 enclosures being used are the A,B and C. There is one that is clearly larger out of the three (double the size, maybe more) and when I asked the receptionist about how the space is shared, she said the bears are seperated because there are 2 of them dont get along. So 1 bear is in each one. I just hope that they all get an equal amount of time being switched into the bigger encloser aswell because when we left we walked pass the other enclosures and they really werent very big. Also, there is a underwater viewing deck where you can see into the pool of the big enclosure! Unfornately, we were unable to see a bear swimming. But that room is also filled with informational games!

Anyways, it was a surpise when we realized there was a little town "recreation" further down past the enclosures. It showcased old stores, houses, shops, a church and even an old school house and hunting cabin. It was like a step back in time.

Leaving the habiat there is a room that plays information movies, a giftshop and thru the giftshop is the Snowmobile Club 's Museum. The room smells entirely of gasoline so if your sensitive to that I wouldnt go in but it showcases a wide range of vintage...

A somewhat interesting stop. Its always neat to have the chance to see polar bears, but the place seems kind of run down and disorganized. There are 2 polar bears on site at the time of this post. Unfortunately I didnt get to see either as they were inside. But when I asked one staff member outside if the polar bears go in to the specific building we were standing by, they said "i dont know. Sometimes you see them and sometimes you dont." There were only 2 buildings by the enclosures so I dont understand how staff doesn't know which is the polar bear home, in addition to being dismissive. The other staff member i spoke with who was inside the viewing building couldn't really provide much information either. We were the only ones at the refuge that day too. So I dont think anyone was over worked. Also, many of the displays were not working or appeared run down. When asked about that, I was told "I dont know, its never worked as long as I worked here." Some positives are that you can camp there, so thats cool. And they have a little swimming pool where you can swim beside the polar bears viewing windows, if they were out. So that was really impressive. But we were not advised thay it was there by anyone, so the kids had to go back and get their swim suits, otherwise we would have brought them in the first place. So as I said, a neat place, but staff were not much help in any regard to our visit. Oh, and it wasnt cheap for what they offer. So hopefully it goes to a good cause and not just all to the owners personally accounts at the expense...

Excellent! We had an unforgettable experience observing all three bears up close, especially the world's rarest animal, the polar bear. Cochrane's polar bear habitat is a must-visit! We're already looking forward to returning and planning to witness the polar bear feeding time next time. The staff informed us that it's an even more mesmerizing sight. 🐨🐨👍🙏 The entire moment was superb, and it's crucial to remain calm and quiet to show respect to the polar bears.

This experience will undoubtedly be a lifetime memory to cherish. 💝 At the entrance area, there's a gift store where we purchased polar bear T-shirts and other lovely souvenirs. Just a heads up, no dogs are allowed, but they can be accommodated near the entrance. The place has ample parking space, is wheelchair accessible, and has well-maintained washroom facilities.

Furthermore, inside the entrance area, there's a fascinating snowmobile museum that is definitely worth a visit. And for those interested, there's a camping site available; you can find more information on their website. Overall, a fantastic visit, and we can't...