Grizzly Bear

Ursus arctos

The great, shaggy Grizzly usually moves with a low, clumsy walk, but it can run as fast as a horse. Grizzly cubs can climb, but they lose their climbing ability during their first year. The Grizzly Bear feeds on many kinds of plant material, including roots, sprouts, leaves, berries, and mushrooms, as well as on fish, insects, and mammals. In winter, Grizzlies put on a layer of fat, as much as 400 pounds worth, and den up in a protected spot. Not true hibernators, they are easily awakened.

Look For : A large brown bear usually with white-tipped hairs.

Length : Body 6-7' long.

Habitat : Mountain meadows and forests; along streams and rivers (especially those with salmon runs); berry bushes or willow thickets. Avoid these habitats in bear country.

Range : Alaska and Canada south to Wyoming in Rocky Mts.