Bears wake from hibernation a month early due to mild winter

HELSINKI, Finland, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Finland's Helsinki Zoo said a pair of brown bears have woken from their winter hibernation a month early, likely due to mild temperatures.

The Helsinki Zoo shared video showing the bears, ages 10 and 15, emerging from their man-made den at the zoo after workers heard banging inside the structure and opened the door.

The bears went into hibernation in early November and were expected to sleep until early March, but they woke a month early this year due to milder than usual weather conditions.

The zoo said the bears woke from last year's hibernation early, as well.

The video shows the bears, still groggy from their long naps, playing around in the snow.