The Grizzly is an American subspecies of the brown bear. It is distributed mainly in Alaska and Canada. The body structure and appearance of American brown bears do not differ much from their East Siberian relatives. Grizzly weighs from 200 to 450 kg, is armed with fearsome teeth and claws and has an unpredictable behavior. The hump on his shoulders and the depressed profile give his appearance a special peculiarity.
Fact number one.
Grizzlies are omnivores. Most of their diet is plants, fruits and berries, including blueberries, blueberries and cranberries. They also eat a variety of insects, such as bees, ladybugs, and ants. A grizzly can swallow up to 40,000 moths in a day. Quite often, the bear’s menu includes large animals: deer, elk, bison, and sheep.
Most of them are old, sickly individuals and young animals. These predators are very fond of catching fish, as it is rich in protein, so they can often be found near reservoirs where there is an abundance of fish.
Fact number two.
This big bear has no fear. This, combined with its size and power, gives it a distinct advantage over any prey. The bear is lightning quick with its prey. The Grizzly Bear is not afraid of humans and can kill them with a single blow of his paw. A wounded bear is especially dangerous.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended to go to the forest, where grizzly bears live, not alone but in groups. This, to some extent, will reduce the possibility of attack in an unexpected encounter with the predator. It should be noted that attacks on humans are rare, but it is almost impossible to escape.
Fact number three.
Grizzlies are surprisingly fast. Although they appear large, heavy and clumsy, they can actually reach speeds of up to 56 kilometers per hour when running short distances. This is why experts advise never trying to run away from a grizzly.
Fact number four.
A grizzly has a distinctive hump. The hump is a pure muscle that grizzlies need to power their front legs for speed and dig winter dens in their rocky mountain habitat. Extra forelimb strength also helps grizzly bears dig in the dirt and bushes for insects, plants and roots.
Fact number five.
Grizzlies do not hibernate. Grizzlies use the fat reserves they accumulate in the summer and fall to provide the energy they need to survive the months of winter in their den. Although not considered truly hibernating, grizzly bears spend the winter in a state of torpor. They may wake up if necessary, but for the most part they remain in their warm dens without eating, drinking, or excreting waste.
Fact number six.
Female grizzly bears have their first cubs — which are born after a gestation period of 180 to 266 days — only when they are four to seven years old. The cubs, which are born tiny, blind and helpless, weigh only about 450 grams at birth.
The female stays in the den with the cubs for several months until they are big and strong enough to explore the outside world. The mother grizzly continues to feed and protect her cubs for two to three years and does not breed again until they separate.
Fact number seven.
Grizzlies have several ways of communicating. Although grizzly bears are widely known for their sense of smell, these large mammals have several ways of interacting with each other and their environment. Grizzlies rely on sound — moaning, grunting, and growling — to communicate with mates or young offspring.
They use trees to leave their scent behind so that other bears are aware of their presence. A grizzly bear’s body language says a lot about how it feels. When excited, grizzly bears move their heads back and forth, make snorting noises and click their teeth. Signs of aggression include lowering the head, pushing the ears back, and opening the mouth.
Fact number eight.
Grizzly bears have paws with 15 centimeters curved claws, which are extremely sharp. The presence of these claws markedly distinguishes this predator among its congeners. Unfortunately, the same claws do not allow this predator to climb trees, unlike the usual brown bear.
Fact number nine.
Grizzlies prefer to live a secluded lifestyle, and they try not to leave their areas, which they mark and protect. Predators that live in wooded areas, with their paws, rip the bark off trees that grow on the borders of their plots. Highlanders make similar marks on rocks, cliffs and even on tourists’ tents.
Fact number ten.
Today grizzly bears are on the brink of extinction, so they are listed in the International Red Book. Officially they are protected and their habitat is restricted to National Parks, where strict rules of conduct apply, including for tourists. The largest numbers of grizzly bears are in Yellowstone National Park, Glacier Park, and Mount McKinley Park.
Here they are in the most comfortable habitat and that is why these parks serve as a source of baby grizzlies, which are shipped to other National Parks to expand and increase the grizzly population. Today the North American bear population numbers about 50,000.
And it is worth remembering that at the beginning of the last century the number of animals was reduced by almost 30 times due to uncontrolled hunting. Nowadays the hunting of these animals is strictly controlled by the laws of the United States. If hunting is permitted, then only in certain places and then only once every 4 years.
Every year, on March 26, International Grizzly Bear Day is celebrated.
