Orem residents get ready, it’s time to meet Mero the Mammoth. He’s a big deal.

Woolly mammoths lived during the last ice age and may have died off when the weather became warmer and their food supply changed, but before that, they most likely coexisted with early humans. Apparently part of their territory was right here in Orem.

While the mammoth, cousins to the African Elephant, were last heard of in the Arctic regions as recent as 5,000 years ago. It appears they migrated everywhere including to the shores of Lake Bonneville in Utah. For thousands of years, Lake Bonneville covered much of the state.

It took Orem resident Daniel Thomas digging a trench in his front yard in November 1937 for archeologists to make that mammoth connection.

“Thomas was digging a trench in his front yard to connect to the city water system when he unearthed what seemed to be a large tooth,” according to Pete Wolfley, city spokesman.

Archaeologists from the University of Utah got involved and did a full dig and found a complete skeleton of a mammoth that lived in the Great Basin over 10,000 years ago. The skeleton was taken to the University of Utah’s Museum of Natural History and the skull is on public display. The Thomas property is now The Paper Store off of South State Street in Orem.

“The fact that a mammoth was found in Orem is one of the most unique things from our history and we wanted to find a way to help kids (and adults) connect with our local history,” Wolfley said. “Bringing the Orem mammoth to life felt like the perfect way to do that.”

Orem has made “Mero” the city mascot, with a new woolly coat costume to wear during city activities.

“We’re excited to introduce Mero the Mammoth as Orem’s First Resident and official mascot of the City of Orem. Mero was named by fourth-generation Orem resident Becca Downs and is Orem spelled backwards,” Wolfley said. “Some have struggled with the pronunciation of the mammoth’s name but all you have to remember is the simple rhyme: Mero is our Hero.”

Mero’s first public appearance was at the Truck-or-Treat event at University Place on Oct. 30 where thousands of people had the chance to see the mammoth and say hello.

“We know that a city having a mascot will strike some residents as strange but it’s all about connection for us. Mero the Mammoth will be able to connect with a section of our residents and get them excited about Orem in a way that no public official, employee, program, or event ever will,” Wolfley added.

Mero will make appearances at city events and other special occasions. His next sighting will be at the city’s annual holiday event, Lights On, starting at 6 p.m. on Nov. 22 at the Orem City Center.