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| The '''brown bear''' (sometimes called the grizzly in North America) is a species of ] (''Ursus arctos'') that can reach weights of 300 to 1500 ]s. Their coat ranges from shades of blond, brown, black, or a combination thereof; the long outer guard hairs are often tipped with white or silver giving a grizzled appearance. Brown bears have a large hump of ] over the shoulders which gives strength to the forelimbs for digging. Their heads are large and round with a ] facial profile. In spite of their size, they can run at speeds of up to 35 mph. | The '''brown bear''' (sometimes called the grizzly in North America) is a species of ] (''Ursus arctos'') that can reach weights of 300 to 1500 ]s. Their coat ranges from shades of blond, brown, black, or a combination thereof; the long outer guard hairs are often tipped with white or silver giving a grizzled appearance. Brown bears have a large hump of ] over the shoulders which gives strength to the forelimbs for digging. Their heads are large and round with a ] facial profile. In spite of their size, they can run at speeds of up to 35 mph. | ||
| Once native to ], ], ] and ], brown bears are now extinct in some areas or have had their numbers greatly reduced. They prefer semi-open country, usually in mountainous areas. | Once native to ], ], ] and ], brown bears are now extinct in some areas or have had their numbers greatly reduced. They prefer semi-open country, usually in mountainous areas. The brown bear ranges from ] east through the ] and ], south through ] and through the western half of ]. Isolated populations exist in northwestern ], northern ], western ], and northwestern ]. The subspecies horribilis includes all brown bear of continental North America; the subspecies middendorffi includes brown bear on the Alaskan islands of ], ], and ]. The subspecies nelsoni range is | ||
| in northern ]. | |||
| The brown bear is primarily ] and in the summer puts on up to 400 pounds of ] on which it relies to make it through the winter, when it becomes very lethargic. Although they are not true ] and can be woken easily, they like to den up in a protected spot such as a ], crevice or hollow log during the winter months. Being ]s, 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 brown bear congregates alongside streams and rivers during the ] spawn. Every other year females produce 1-4 young which are the size of rats, weighing only 1 pound. | The brown bear is primarily ] and in the summer puts on up to 400 pounds of ] on which it relies to make it through the winter, when it becomes very lethargic. Although they are not true ] and can be woken easily, they like to den up in a protected spot such as a ], crevice or hollow log during the winter months. Being ]s, 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 brown bear congregates alongside streams and rivers during the ] spawn. Every other year females produce 1-4 young which are the size of rats, weighing only 1 pound. | ||
| Four subspecies of North American brown bear have recognized: | |||
| * ''Ursus arctos |
* ''Ursus arctos'' ssp. ''arctos'' -- brown bear; | ||
| * ''Ursus arctos |
* ''Ursus arctos'' ssp. ''horribilis'' -- grizzly bear; | ||
| * ''Ursus arctos'' ssp. ''middendorffi'' -- Kodiak bear | |||
| * ''Ursus arctos'' ssp. ''nelsoni'' -- Mexican grizzly bear, possibly extinct. | |||
| ==== Legal Status ==== | |||
| The grizzly bear is listed as threatened in the conterminous United States. The Mexican grizzly bear is listed as endangered. The grizzly bear is state listed as endangered in Washington. In Canada, it is listed as vulnerable in Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, and Yukon Territory. Prairie populations of grizzly bear are listed as extirpated in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatechewan. | |||
| ==== Links ==== | |||
| http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/urar/index.html | |||
Revision as of 08:56, 3 May 2002
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File:Grizzly-thumbnail.jpg |
The brown bear (sometimes called the grizzly in North America) is a species of bear (Ursus arctos) that can reach weights of 300 to 1500 pounds. Their coat ranges from shades of blond, brown, black, or a combination thereof; the long outer guard hairs are often tipped with white or silver giving a grizzled appearance. Brown bears have a large hump of muscle over the shoulders which gives strength to the forelimbs for digging. Their heads are large and round with a concave facial profile. In spite of their size, they can run at speeds of up to 35 mph.
Once native to Asia, Africa, Europe and North America, brown bears are now extinct in some areas or have had their numbers greatly reduced. They prefer semi-open country, usually in mountainous areas. The brown bear ranges from Alaska east through the Yukon and Northwest Territories, south through British Columbia and through the western half of Alberta. Isolated populations exist in northwestern Washington, northern Idaho, western Montana, and northwestern Wyoming. The subspecies horribilis includes all brown bear of continental North America; the subspecies middendorffi includes brown bear on the Alaskan islands of Kodiak, Afognak, and Shuyak. The subspecies nelsoni range is in northern Mexico.
The brown bear is primarily nocturnal and in the summer puts on up to 400 pounds of fat on which it relies to make it through the winter, when it becomes 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 brown bear 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.
Four subspecies of North American brown bear have recognized:
- Ursus arctos ssp. arctos -- brown bear;
- Ursus arctos ssp. horribilis -- grizzly bear;
- Ursus arctos ssp. middendorffi -- Kodiak bear
- Ursus arctos ssp. nelsoni -- Mexican grizzly bear, possibly extinct.
Legal Status
The grizzly bear is listed as threatened in the conterminous United States. The Mexican grizzly bear is listed as endangered. The grizzly bear is state listed as endangered in Washington. In Canada, it is listed as vulnerable in Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, and Yukon Territory. Prairie populations of grizzly bear are listed as extirpated in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatechewan.
Links
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/urar/index.html