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BILLINGS- Zoo-goers can expect more excitement from the grizzly bear exhibit at ZooMontana.

After months of preparation, the approximately three-year-old Ozzie and 12-year-old Bruno are being introduced to the same pen.

Zoo staff say the bears interacted through the fence for a period of time and showed no signs of aggression, so the decision was made to put them together.

That first introduction took place last Wednesday, with precautionary measures to either distract the bears or tranquillize them in the instance that something went wrong.

But, the bears responded well, and they have spent several hours a day together since.

"Since that first moment they had that first contact they just pretty much took each other in a bear hug and haven't stopped since. They've been wrestling and playing ever since. Actually, our biggest problem right now is getting them a break from each other, so they don't get exhausted, which isn't a bad problem to have," lead zookeeper Dani Flynn said.

According to Flynn, the bears will be permanently placed together when they can co-exist normally, taking time away from the "bear hugs" to sleep.