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Animal facts |
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| Fast Facts: Grizzly bear
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| Species name: |
Ursus arctos horribilus |
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| Average weight: |
250 – 350 kg (male)
125 – 175 kg (female) |
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| Life expectancy: |
15 – 20 years |
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Did you know?
The grizzly bear is the second largest land carnivore in North America.
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Physiology
The grizzly bear is the second largest land carnivore in North America. It has a
strong, heavy body with an average length of 1.8 metres from nose to tail. It is
distinguished from other bears by the large shoulder hump that supports its
massive front legs, its extremely long front claws and the concave facial
profile of its large head. The grizzly bear's fur is usually darkish brown, but
can vary from ivory yellow to black. It has long hairs on its head and shoulders
that often have white tips and give the bear the "grizzled" appearance from which it derives
its name. Its legs and feet tend to be even darker in colour.
Despite its large size, the grizzly bear has been known to run at speeds of 55 kilometres
per hour. It has well developed senses of smell and hearing that compensates for its poor
eyesight.
Habitats/Behaviours
The grizzly bear is a solitary animal. Individual bears have a home range, but these may
overlap and are not fiercely defended. The grizzly's habitat can range from dense forest
to alpine meadow or arctic tundra. It has no predators, other than humans.
Contrary to popular belief, the grizzly bear is not a true hibernator. In the winter its
body temperature may drop a few degrees and its respiration may slow slightly, but it can
remain active all winter.
Although it is considered a meat-eater, the grizzly bear is actually omnivorous, which
means it eats both meat and vegetation. It eats mammals and spawning salmon, when they are
available, but relies mainly on vegetation for food. Plants make up 80 to 90 percent of
the grizzly's diet! It eats a variety of berries to gain fat deposits that helps it survive
the winter months. The grizzly bear will also take advantage of food and garbage that is
left by humans, particularly at campsites and dumps.
Range
The grizzly bear has the widest distribution of any species of bear because it occupies
a wide range of habitats. The grizzly is found in western Canada as far as the eastern boundary
of Manitoba. It is also found in Alaska, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington.
The grizzly bear's range has shrunk as human populations grow and occupy its territory.
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