Polar bear eating pumpkin – Photo courtesy of Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat
Today’s good news story comes from the Good News Network.
Polar Bear Gleefully Eating a 1,400-Pound Pumpkin Donated for His Dinner is a Sight to Behold
It’s not every day that Henry the polar bear sees something that weighs more than he does.
At 1,200 pounds, the polar bear is the world’s largest land predator, but here was something substantially heavier, and it was just sitting there in his enclosure.
Defensive at first, Henry eventually dug into the sweet, crunchy flesh of a giant, 1,400 lbs. pumpkin that was donated to the nonprofit that looks after him. The photos will steal a chuckle out of anyone.
Reported first by CTV News, the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat received the pumpkin as a total coincidence, and the organization’s manager, Amy Baxendell-Young, told the outlet how it happened.
“One of my staff was driving up from down south and ended up directly behind this pumpkin as it was on the highway,” she said.
Her staff member gave her a call and said that the truck carrying the massive gourd had a logo on the side: Aidie Creek Gardens. Baxendell-Young decided to call them up.
“And pretty quickly they got back to me and said, if we don’t take it, it’s just going in the compost. Henry actually came out and didn’t know what it was—and got actually quite defensive … because I think he was just quite shocked at this new thing in his enclosure.”
Evolved to eat mostly baby seals, which are all fat, a polar bear can zoom through a pumpkin without putting on any weight at all. Unlike for humans, for whom a pumpkin or squash is a complex carb with polyphenols and fiber, for a bear, it’s all empty calories.
The Cochrane Habitat in Ontario is the world’s only nonprofit organization that provides sanctuary to polar bears in need of human care and who can’t live in the wild anymore. They often receive presents for their bears around Polar Bear Awareness Week.
Photos released by the habitat show Henry in something of a food coma after smashing around a third of the pumpkin in one sitting.
The good news in this story is reading about a very happy Polar Bear. Today’s JohnKu talks about happiness. I hope you have a lovely weekend.
A small Measure by John W. Howell © 2025
It doesn’t take much.
Happiness is a matter . . .
Of joy in small chunks
Fiction Favorites 
So funny. Thanks for sharing, and enjoy a wonderful weekend! John, i hope you also will gift your two home predators with pumpkins. 😉 i am sure after the first contact the living room will look like a scene from a horro movie. Lol xx Michael
LikeLiked by 2 people
They have a stuffed pumpkin for a few minutes, and yes, you are right about the horror show. Thanks, Michael
LikeLike
Nothing better than a bear having the time of his life
LikeLiked by 1 person
Especially a polar bear. 🐻❄️
LikeLiked by 1 person
The squirrels around here certainly demolish pumpkins. What fun that polar bears enjoy them as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The deer here like them, too. I agree on the fun, Joy. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
One very happy polar bear! Really enjoyed this news story, John.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Esther. It just hit the right note with me as well. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
It makes me wonder if the deer around the corner from our house are equally as thrilled when my sister dismantles our outdoor displays and hauls all her pumpkins to their part of the planet… This is awesome!!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Earlier this week, a lady who lives near us in Central Texas shared a picture of deer enjoying a huge pumpkin. She planned on putting out more for them.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, our deer love them.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m sure they love it. I know our deer love their pumpkins. Thanks, Annette.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those photos are hilarious. He looks so happy at first, then looks like I do after turkey dinner at the end.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha ha ha. So true, Craig. Thanks for the laugh. 😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely wonderful. You’ve heard about nature’s balance? Here’s one example: Bear + pumpkin = me + a new half gallon of Bluebell.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Man oh man. You are talking about a balance made in heaven. Gotta get me some Bluebell. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of the best stories, John. Thanks for making my day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always glad when the story gives a lift. Thanks for letting me know, Grant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic! The photos are hilarious! Who knew riding behind a truck would be such a good thing. Yay for Henry!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you liked it, Lois.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These photos are just priceless, particularly the last one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are. So glad you liked them, Liz
LikeLiked by 1 person
This put a smile on my face, especially the photo of Henry in a pumpkin-induced coma. The best news is that someone is caring for these polar bears!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, Noelle. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Holy prodigious pumpkin, Batman! If anyone criticizes me for eating two slices of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, I’ll tell them about this polar bear 🙃
LikeLiked by 2 people
Gives us all a good excuse. Thanks Dave.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gotta be a huge pumpkin of it looks that big next to a polar bear.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right. Thanks, Charles.
LikeLike
It’s wonderful that the huge pumpkin was given as a gift to Henry, John. To me, he looks very happy and full after eating it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a smile maker for sure. Thanks, Tim
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why does the picture of Henry bring back memories of post-Thanksgiving?😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
On the couch. 🛋️🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why do we do that to ourselves? 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Because we can and then regret it. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that is a sweet story for this Friday, John! Love this so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad, Dale.. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
This made me happy! Thanks, John:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad, Denise.
LikeLike
LOL! This is a delightful post! He does look like he’s in a pumpkin coma. Have a lovely week-end, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You as well, Deborah.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Talk about smashing pumpkins! 🎶 Sweet story. Thank you for sharing. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you liked it, Michele.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊🙏🏻🎃
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Polar bears are such immense creatures, I mean this fella makes that giant pumpkin look like no big thing AND he puts on zero pounds in the process. Impressive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, where do we find grub like that?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not at Whole Foods, tell you what.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whole paycheck is a belly in the making.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow that is pretty amazing, both the size of the pumpkin and polar bear eating it. Incidentally I am soon going to drink a big Pumpkin beer called Pumpinator.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have not had that beer. Enjoy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It is a stout with pumpkin spice brewed by St. Arnold’s in Houston.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊 Yum
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh what a fun fri – yay for Henry! I love this, John! 🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Cindy. I loved it, too.
LikeLike
Delightful good news post! Henry figured it out fast that it was easier to catch than a baby seal and a nice addition to his protein diet. TGIF, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jo. Henry is one in a million. 😊
LikeLike
Reminds me, I’ve got to get to COSTCO for one of their humongous pumpkin pies, maybe two at $6 ea. they’re delicious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We just got a Dubai cake. Terrific.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wasn’t sure what a Dubai cake was so I researched it and WOW, it sounds fantastic. And, of course the chocolate and pistachios makes it healthy 😉. I just might have to indulge, myself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is very rich. The price is out of sight, but we had to try it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Decadence is in
Have you tried the Dubai cake
Go ahead, be spoiled
My attempt at a haiku. Are punctuations allowed?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, punctuation is allowed. Lovely Haiku, Steve.
LikeLike
So happy for Henry and so grateful there are folks out there ready to bring simple happiness to creatures, especially those whose habitat is shrinking due to climate change. Thanks for bringing this good news story today. I needed it, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always glad to hear it was a welcome bit of news. Thanks for sharing, Monika.
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMG, I love this. I adore polar bears. I’ve never met one, but if one tries to crash Twiggy and Tempeste’s yard, they should befriend it… and the rhino.
Thank goodness there are those around to take care of animals that can’t take care of themselves anymore.
With global warming, the Polar Bears are in trouble. It’s nice to see a happy one.
Lovely JohnKu, thank you John!
🐻❄️X 🐻❄️X🐻❄️X 🐻❄️X
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree that more care should be given to polar bears. You would think the Chinese and India would have more concern for the planet. Glad you liked the JohnKu. 😊X
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agree!
Still, it must be moot to care about the planet, when securing food is a daily chore and clean water is scarce.
I know everything is at odds with itself.
Nothing makes people not care about tomorrow like grinding poverty.
You might think I’m crazy, but imo the planet is overcrowded. The planet cannot keep up with the food needs of humans and the abject waste we create.
Many hard core religious beliefs will not allow for birth control. The eating of animals is unnecessary in today’s world, considering current nutritional health/dietary info.
1 acre of land to feed 1 vegetarian for 1 year.
5 acres of land to feed 1 meat based diet person per year.
Plastic.
As we can see, people won’t change, so the planet is.
Gee, I’m yakky this morning!
OX OX OX OX
LikeLiked by 1 person
My point is that the US could go to a zero-carbon footprint, and it would not significantly alter the eventual outcomes for the planet. Sadly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🥲X
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is adorable!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊 I thought so, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your JohnKu is perfect for Henry and his pumpkin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
This post is a delight, John. Hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you like it, Robbie.
LikeLike
What a happy bear! Food diversity is good even for Polar Bears! Thank you, dear John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person