09-08-2025
Comfort-Loving Zoo Bear Filmed Turning Wheelbarrow into a Cozy Sunbathing Chair
A Memphis Zoo representative says the 20-year-old black bear, named River, has 'a nose for the cozy things in life'NEED TO KNOW
The Memphis Zoo's black bear, River, used a wheelbarrow as a makeshift chair in a viral video
The 20-year-old bear is known for loving cozy spots and fall-inspired scents
The zoo shared the adorable clip on Aug. 5According to a black bear in Tennessee, where there's a wheelbarrow, there's always a way.
The Memphis Zoo, located in Memphis, Tenn., shared an adorable video of one of their black bears innovatively using a wheelbarrow as a plaything, and then a comfortable chair.
The video, posted to Instagram on Tuesday, Aug. 5, captures the bear, River, flipping over the wheelbarrow left in his habitat as enrichment before attempting to fit his entire body into the yellow carrier. After rotating around the make-shift furniture to find the most comfortable position, River leans his head back in his new chair to bask in the sun.
Commenters of the clip supported River in all of his relaxation activities. "Funnily enough, that is also how I look when I sit in this heat! Stay cool 🐻," wrote an Instagram user. Another added, "It's his little boat and he's sailing on the sea in his mind."
Amanda Moses, Memphis Zoo's marketing and communications manager, shared with PEOPLE that the 20-year-old bear was born on January 26 and weighs 519 pounds and is a known lover of all things comfort.
"He's got a nose for the cozy things in life and absolutely lives for fall-inspired scents like pumpkin and cinnamon enrichment that's as heartwarming as a [Pumpkin Spice Latte] on a crisp October morning," said Moses. "Memphis Zoo animals receive all kinds of creative enrichment from our care teams, and this was clearly a win."
It seems River knows how to have a good time and chooses the more soothing parts of life. However, the same cannot be said for another bear, who recently got her head stuck in a jar for 12 days.
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According to a press release from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), obtained by PEOPLE, the 2-year-old female bear was spotted by multiple locals before U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services stepped in. The authorities used multiple live traps and a trained wildlife professional with a dart gun to immobilize the animal.
According to the DNR, the bear was sedated, and then the USDA Wildlife Services officials were able to cut off the plastic jar.
"Twelve days for a bear to be without food and not much water, it's impressive for the bear," said a local who spotted the bear and assisted with getting the animal help. "To be a part of its resolution was... definitely something that we can be happy we were there for it."
Read the original article on People
