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The grizzly bear takes its name from long, silver- tipped hairs on its back and
shoulders. They give its coat a grizzled appearance. The grizzly is the fiercest
most aggressive of all bears. It is found only in North America,
and is a sub-species of the more widespread brown bear. It leads an almost
solitary existence in wild mountains and thick forests.
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HABITS
In its natural home the grizzly bear has no enemies or predators. It is not especially
territorial and it will tolerate other grizzlies. The grizzly rarely fights, but when it
does, it usually wins. Most fights occur during the mating season or when a sow must
defend her cubs from attack.
BREEDING |
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Male grizzlies attract mates by making low snorts and nibbling the females' backs
and necks. Although mating occurs in June, the fertilized eggs are not implanted into
the womb until fall. This gives the pregnant sow time to store food. |
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Gestation takes 180 to 150 days, and birth occurs in the den during winter. The newborn
cubs are blind, toothless, and almost hairless. They are 8 inches long and weigh between
1 - 1.5 lbs. The cubs remain in the den with their mother until spring, feeding on her
rich milk. In April or May the mother takes the cubs out and teaches them to forage and
hunt. They stay with her during the first winter after birth. |
| FOOD & HUNTING |
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The grizzly is an omnivore, which means it is equally satisfied by both vegetable and
animal matter. Its diet includes fruits, berries, nuts, roots, fish, rodents, and
occasionally other mammals. It even eats carrion (dead flesh), which it can smell from
as far as 18 miles away. The grizzly's teeth have become modified over the centuries to
suit its varied diet. When a grizzly kills a large animal such as a caribou, it chooses
one that is young, weakened or wounded. The kill can last a sow and her cubs for 4 to 5
days. The mother hides the carcass from other animals between feeding times. Grizzlies
may also dig out smaller prey, such as ground squirrels, with their long, sharp
claws. |
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THE GRIZZLY BEAR & MAN |
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The Grizzly bear is often seen as the most fearsome of the carnivores whom Man can
encounter. However, the bears are usually shy and stay well clear of humans. The
exceptions can be startling a bear on a trail, or coming across a bear when she
is with cubs. Such encounters can often be avoided by using bear bells. If you
are attacked, authorities suggest climbing a tree, as grizzlies (unlike black
bears) will not climb. If there are no trees to be had, then back off as quickly
as possible, drop something to distract the bear, and in the worst of all
scenarios, play dead.
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Standing Height: Average 6 ft. |
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Weight: Varies from 200-650 lb. according to
location |
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Breeding |
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Sexual maturity: Males, 4 years. Females,
3 years. |
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Mating: June. |
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Gestation: 180-250 days. |
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Number of young: Usually 2. |
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Lifestyle |
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Habit: Solitary, except during breeding season. |
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Diet:
Variety of fruit, berries, tubers, insects, grubs, honey, fish, rodents.
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Lifespan:
Maximum 30 years. |
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DID YOU KNOW?
- Fossil records show that the first bears appeared in Europe
about 30 million years ago.
- An estimated 50,000 grizzlies still live in Canada and Alaska,
but there are less than 1,000 in the rest of North America.
- The phrase "licked into shape" comes from an old
belief that bears were born so soft and shapeless that their
mothers had to lick them into the shape of a bear.
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