Declining quality of life led to Will, 22, being humanely euthanized.
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is sad to announce the passing of Will, a 22-year-old American grizzly bear. Will was humanely euthanized on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 in his den at Big Rivers.
“Will had been living with arthritis for several years, managed with supportive medications and close veterinary care. Two weeks ago, our animal care team observed weakness in his right hind leg. Despite medical intervention, his condition progressed, and by June 20, he experienced significant loss of mobility in both hind legs,” said Dr. Gretchen Cole, OKC Zoo’s Director of Veterinary Services. “Veterinary staff suspected a neurological issue affecting his lower spine and initiated appropriate treatments. Unfortunately, Will’s condition continued to deteriorate. After careful consideration, and with his well-being as our top priority, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize him.”
A postmortem examination confirmed that Will was suffering from spinal disc disease, which was compressing his spinal cord and causing the progressive weakness.
“These decisions are never easy,” Dr. Cole added, “but the findings affirm that it was the most humane choice for Will.”
Along with his brother Wiley, Will was rescued from the Alaskan wilderness after their mother was killed. They came to the OKC Zoo in 2003 at approximately five months old. Southwest Airlines transported the cubs on a commercial flight from Alaska as part of the Zoo’s Operation Bear Care. The duo’s names were chosen by public contest with thousands of people voting to name them after two of Oklahoma’s most famous sons, Will Rogers and Wiley Post.
“Caretakers will increase Wiley’s behavioral monitoring in the coming weeks to ensure he’s doing well,” said Tyler Boyd, OKC Zoo’s Curator of Carnivores.
When the Zoo’s Oklahoma Trails habitat first opened in 2007, Will and Wiley were among the first animals to be relocated. In the decades since coming to the Zoo, the grizzly bears have remained two of the Zoo’s most popular ambassadors and visitors enjoyed watching them nap, wrestle, and roll in the grass.
The grizzly bear is a North American subspecies of the brown bear and currently protected in the continental United States under the Endangered Species Act. They get their name from their white-tipped or grizzled fur. Grizzlies are powerful apex predators, but they are also opportunistic eaters with much of their diet consisting of nuts, berries, fruits, fish and rodents.
Median life span for male brown bears is 21.9 years old, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
The Oklahoma City Zoo’s regular daytime hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry at 4 p.m. Now through Labor Day, ZOOfriends members can enter early at 8:30 a.m. to beat the heat. Avoid the entry lines and purchase advance Zoo admission tickets online at okczoo.org/tickets. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District.
Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. Zoo more with a ZOOfriends membership! As a ZOOfriends member of the Oklahoma City Zoo, enjoy free admission for 12-months, plus additional benefits and discounts. You will also be supporting the Zoo’s animal family, education programming, and conservation initiatives both locally and globally. Join or renew today at www.okczoo.org/membership.