Grizzly Bears are large brown bears that live in cool mountain forests and

river valleys. These solitary mammals can run up to 35 mph (56 kph) for short
bursts. Grizzlies are a threatened species.

Anatomy: Grizzly Bears are up to 7 feet (2.1 m) long and weigh up to

1,500 pounds (680 kg). Females are about 2/3 the size of males. Their thick
fur ranges in color from black to brown to reddish brown to blond. They have
dense fur close to the skin and long, coarse guard hairs that become silver
tipped as the bears age, giving them a grizzled appearance (and their name).
They have a big head, a long muzzle, and a large hump on their shoulder (a
mass of muscles that give the front legs extra strength). Like all bears, they are
plantigrade (flat-footed). The front claws are up to 4.75 inches (12 cm), almost
twice as long as the rear claws. Newborns weigh only about 1 pound (0.45
kg), the size of a rat.

Behavior: These fierce predators are mostly nocturnal (more active at night).
Although they sleep in dens (caves, hollow logs, or holes they dig) during the
winter, they are not true hibernators and can be easily awakened.

Diet: Grizzly Bears are omnivores who eat plants, roots, berries, fungi, fish,
small mammals, and large insects.

Classification: Class Mammalian, Order Carnivore, Family Ursidae (bears),

Genus Ursus, species arctos (grizzly bear and brown bear).
Grizzly Bear
UrsusGrizzly Bear
Ursus arctos

Description - This large animal reaches weights of 300-

1500 pounds. The coat color ranges from shades of blond,
brown, black or a combination of these; the long outer
guard hairs are often tipped with white or silver giving it a
grizzled appearance hence the name. The grizzly has a
large hump over the shoulders which is a muscle mass
used to power the forelimbs in digging. The head is large
and round with a concave facial profile. In spite of their
mass size this bear runs at speeds of up to 35 mph.

Distribution - Once native to Asia, Africa, Europe and

North America, it is now in some areas extinct or had its
numbers greatly reduced. In B.C. it inhabits most of the
province except Vancouver Island, the Queen Charlotte
Islands and the lower mainland. Nearly half of Canada's
grizzly population - about 13 000 - lives in this province.
They prefer semi-open country usually in mountainous
areas.

Biology - The grizzly bear is primarily nocturnal and in

the winter puts on up to 400 pounds of fat, becoming very
lethargic. Although they are not true hibernators and can be
woken easily, they like to den up in a protected spot, such
as a cave, crevice or hollow log during the winter months.
Being omnivores, they feed on a variety of plants and
berries including roots or sprouts and fungi as well as fish,
insects and small mammals. Normally a solitary animal,
the grizzly congregates alongside streams and rivers during
the salmon spawn. Every other year females produce 1-4
young which are the size of rats, weighing only 1 pound.

Tracks - The prints of the grizzly bear are characterized

by an oval pad with five toes along the wider top of the
pad on the hind feet. The front feet have a smaller heel pad
and a dew claw which may be present in the print. Claw
marks over twice as long as the toe pads are usually
evident.

Straddle: 32 - 38 cm (12.8 - 15.2 in)

Stride: 30 - 45 cm (12 - 18 in)
Track:

Front - 11 cm (4.4 in) long

10 cm (4 in) wide
Rear - 18 cm (7.2 in) long
9 cm (3.6 in) wide
arctos