Emmett the grizzly bear enjoys his snow day.

A Instagram Reel of the 19-year-old bear shared on November 6 by the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, he happily lounges in the snow while catching snowflakes in his mouth. “Snowflake catching technique 10/10, Emmett. Very comfortable. Very effective,” the caption read.

In the clip, Emmett tilts his head back and sticks out his tongue to gently lap up the falling snowflakes. Although snow covers his thick fur, he is relaxed as he enjoys the winter weather.

After the video of the bear lying in the snow went viral, fans were curious if Emmett was hibernating during the winter at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“In winter, grizzly bears tend to slow down. Recent scientific studies reveal that grizzly bears in the wild do not hibernate, contrary to popular belief,” the zoo explained in a comment on Instagram. Toads, squirrels, groundhogs and other small animals hibernate to sleep during the winter when temperatures drop and food resources are limited.

Although many animals remain hunkered down for months during hibernation, some larger animals like grizzly bears, raccoons and skunks can “gain enough weight to carry them through the cooler season without hibernating,” the study said. zoo.

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“Bears and other larger animals enter torpor in winter, which is a hormonal, physiological and behavioral change triggered by the changing seasons,” the zoo added. “In torpor, body systems slow down and animals may sleep more, but they still wake up.”

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s grizzly bears eat large quantities of food during the summer and fall. When the weather cools, bears eat less and have less energy but remain active.

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to two grizzly bears: Emmett and his longtime roommate Digger. They arrived at the zoo in 2007, when they were about two or three years old.

They were initially labeled “nuisance bears” after being removed from the wild due to their disturbing interactions with humans. Nuisance bears are often euthanized if no other living options can be found for them.

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Luckily, Emmett and Digger found a home at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, where they help educate visitors about grizzly bears in the wild.

Despite Emmett’s serene state when catching snowflakes, the grizzly bear is very active. In October, the zoo shared a Instagram video of him looking for apples. The zoo too threw a housewarming party for Emmett and Digger in August and celebrated the park’s renovated grizzly bear exhibit.