Grizzly Bear Facts

An aggressive omnivore, Grizzly bears are basically solitary animals that attack only when provoked. Here are some interesting Grizzly bear facts, which would help you to get an insight into their behavior and way of life in the wild.
Grizzly Bear Facts
There was a time when the Grizzly bear was a common animal in areas of Canada. But today, this bear is considered to be a threatened species in some areas of Canada and areas of the United States. The Grizzly bear also known as the silvertip bear belongs to a subspecies of the brown bear. These very large bears are aggressive in nature; female Grizzlies are known to go all out to protect their cubs in the wild! Here are many more interesting facts about the Grizzly bears revealing many traits about their lifestyle and habitat.

Grizzly Bear Facts:
Grizzly bears are considered to be one the largest of the North American land mammals. Currently, they also inhabit areas of Alaska and certain portions of Western Canada. The Grizzly bear is also known as a symbol of America’s wild land.

Grizzly bears are omnivores; this means their food include plants as well as animals! Grizzly bears love to feed on fish, deer, sheep and moose and are known to kill black bears as well!

These species of bears need large spaces of live. Their range can include forests, grasslands or they even inhabit mountain areas. Their habitat also depends upon the various seasons; during the warm summers Grizzlies inhabit low-lying areas. In the chilly winters, Grizzly bears inhabit areas of higher altitudes to hibernate for the entire winter season.

Grizzly bears are very aggressive in nature as compared to the general temperament displayed by brown bears. Their attacks on humans can be labeled as a way of self-defense; female Grizzlies are extremely protective about their cubs.

Grizzly bears spend the summer season in search of a suitable place to live. These bears travel large distance for the same. They even dig huge pits underneath the roots of trees with the help of their large forepaws.

Their large size is simply because these bears need to eat great amount of food so that it gets converted into fat and helps it to survive the long winter in hibernation.

Although Grizzly bears do not target humans as a potential source for food, they are known to attack humans. These bears basically avoid contact with humans but show aggressive behavior when surprised. Campers in particular have to be careful about leaving any signs of food that will attract these bears.

Currently, the Grizzly bears face threat for their survival because of the destruction of habitat. Sometimes, hunters accidentally kill these bears due to their resemblance to black bears. In some areas of the world, black bears can be killed legally as a form of sport!

Grizzly bear can be distinguished easily from the brown bear due to their long claws and the rather concave-shaped face with the high-humped shoulders. This hump of muscle is what reduces the speed of the bear while running downhill.

Male Grizzlies are larger than the females. Their large size helps them to compete with each other during the breeding seasons.

Grizzly bears generally hibernate during the months of October or November for a period of 6 months. During this period, this bear uses its accumulated fat for survival.

Here’s another interesting fact about Grizzly bears which may even help you while you are out camping in close vicinity of these bears. Since these bears prefer to avoid humans, it would be a wise idea to create noise while you are traveling as a sign of warning.

Experts opine if attacked by a Grizzly bear, one should play dead rather than sprinting away from the animal. Once convinced that one is not a particular threat in any way, the bear may just leave you unharmed! Of course, it is better to be safe than sorry as far as Grizzly bears are concerned. Being aware of your surroundings and the particular habitat would help you to avoid such situations when you are out in the wild!

By Kashmira Lad
Published: 6/27/2008
 
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