Brit Spaugh Zoo staff reported the passing of long-time resident, Max, the grizzly bear, Wednesday morning due to age-related health conditions.

Zoo officials note that Max came to the Zoo in 1991 already a few years old, so that his age at the time of his passing is estimated to be between 37 and 40 years old.

Bears in the wild are known to have an average of 22-25 years, due to human vs. bear conflicts, habitat lost and altercations with younger bears. Max’s arrival in Great Bend was due to his status as a “nuisance bear” at Yellowstone National Park. His options at that time were to be placed at a facility or be euthanized, so his relocation to Brit Spaugh proved a safe landing.

Max passed away on Tuesday, June 24 due to age-related health conditions, including heart and liver issues. Samples were sent to K-State Veterinary Lab for additional testing, but zoo officials note it can take several weeks to receive results. Max had been treated for arthritis for many years, which had begun to affect his mobility. Zoo Director Ashley Burdick noted that Max had been awarded a special “retirement home” space all his own in his later years.

“Max had quite a following; he is going to be missed,” Burdick noted. “He was a special guy,”

Preceeding Max in death was longtime companion Maggie, also known as “Bear 60.” Maggie, who had reached celebrity status in 1984 with an appearance on the cover of Life Magazine, passed away Dec. 8, 2011, due to complications with arthritis.

The magazine article noted that before coming to Great Bend, Maggie had spent two weeks at the Border Grizzly Project in Missoula, Mont. She was kept in a cell in a former World War II internment camp. At the camp, Maggie was regularly squirted with capsaicin, a derivative of red pepper, in aerosol form. With Maggie scheduled for execution, a petition of 1,700 local residents was generated for a stay of execution and her relocation. Former Zoo Director Scott Gregory noted she was housed with Max, but they were not a breeding pair. 

Max, meanwhile, had been a fixture of the zoo and visitors and staff fondly remember him for his love of apples. “In his younger years, you could count on him for a wave for a snack,” Burdick recalled. Max loved to take naps, swim in his pool and play with his rubber ducky, Gabe.

As a senior, the staff also made sure to provide him with apple pie.

“His advanced age is a true testament to the care our staff provided him over the years. Please keep our staff in your thoughts as we go through this difficult time,” Burdick said.

Max is survived at the zoo by 12-year-old bear siblings Pooh and Piglet.

No memorial service is planned. For questions, contact Burdick, Zoo Director, at 620-793-4226 or email at zoocurator@greatbendks.net.