Grizzly Bear

ANIMAL:
Grizzly Bear                         Ursus horribilis

Type of Animal:
Bear

Habitat:
Forests, plains, meadows, tundra, mountains, alpine/subalpine areas, woodlands, prairies, riparian areas alongside rivers and streams, sub-desert, grasslands, beaches, valleys, coastal areas, rivers, lakes

Location(s):
Alaska, N. Canada, British Columbia, much of Alberta, extreme N. of Saskatchewan & Manitoba into N.W part of Washington, much of Montana & parts of Idaho & Wyoming. Historically, found in W. & N. Canada, Alaska, W. U.S, Great Plains, & N. Mexico.

Appearance:
Male much larger than female. Brown w/ grizzled fur & square head.

Food/Diet:
Bison, pigs, goats, llamas, alpacas, deer, elk, moose, caribou, sheep, musk ox, beavers, rodents, nuts, tubers, carrion, refuse, berries, moths, ants, bees, ladybugs, legumes, leaves, grasses, fish (especially salmon/trout/bass), fish eggs, acorns, mushrooms, roots, bulbs, wasps, seeds, sedges, grubs, flowers, forbs, cattle, equines, honey, beetles, termites, worms, insect larvae, fruit, vegetables, rabbits, hares, pikas, foxes, wolf pups, otters, birds, bobcat kittens. Males sometimes prey on bear cubs. There have been rare cases of man-eating bears.

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos & wildlife parks. Proposed re-introductions into Colorado, N. California, & in Northern Cascades.

Lifestyle:
Solitary, though same-sex sibling groups not uncommon & sizeable groups converge at salmon runs/other food sites.

Additional Info:

Called:
Male-Boar
Female-Sow
Young-Cub
Group-Sleuth

Weight:
Male: 450-800 lbs
Female: 200-450 lbs
Young: 50 lbs

Gestation: 
6-8 months

Height:
Male: 7-9 ft
Female: 6-8 ft

Body Length:
Male: 4.5-8 ft
Female: 4-6.6 ft

Life Span:
20-25 years in wild, up to 35 years in captivity

Tail Length:
1.92-8.04 in

Adults have no predators. Cubs preyed on by adult male bears (brown & black), wolves, & cougars/pumas/mountain lions.

Increasing in wild but threats include habitat loss, persecution, hunting for fur/meat/sport, climate change, human encroachment, & killing of individuals as “problem bears”-bears that get too used to humans.

Fights between males, & even females, sometimes result in death.

Sexually mature at 2.5 years old.

Fun Fact(s):
They eat a lot in the fall in order to stock up for winter.

Can run as fast as 30 mph.

Known to be very dangerous & unpredictable- females w/cubs most dangerous followed by hungry bears & provoked bears. NEVER RUN FROM A BEAR! PLAY DEAD!

 

Leave a Reply to Anonymous Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *