This bear, also known as the silvertip bear, is the fiercest animal in
North America. It is strong enough to carry off small horses and cattle.
Its historic range covered much of North America from the mid-plains westward
to California, and from central Mexico north to Canada and Alaska. Males
stand about 7' tall, and weigh from 300 to 600 pounds. Females are smaller,
usually weighing 200 to 400 pounds. The thick fur varies from light brown
to nearly black, and sometimes looks frosty, hence the name "silvertip".
Except for mating and caring for the young, grizzly bears lead solitary
lives, spending most of their time foraging for food. They are North America's
largest omnivores, feeding on green vegetation, wild fruits and berries,
insects, as well as smaller mammals. Salmon are an important food for grizzly
bears along the west coast of Canada and in Alaska. Females do not reach
maturity until they are 4 to 9 years old, and generally give birth to two
cubs every three years. Usually about 50% of all cubs do not live to reach
breeding age. Grizzly bear populations in the lower 48 states decreased
from estimates of more than 50,000 to less than 1,000 between 1800 and
1975. They are now only found in parts of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and
Washington. Habitat degradation, livestock protection, and protection of
human life are the leading causes of the species' decline.
In the mid 70's, the U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service listed the grizzly bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Recovery of the species involves establishing prospering grizzly populations in the areas where the bears existed in 1975 and in areas that remain capable of supporting viable grizzly bear populations. |
