Grizzly Bear Mum 222 and Cubs Become a Beacon of Strength after the Jasper Wildfires of 2024.






Wild Grizzly Bears

Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) are large mammals that belong to the brown bear species. They are native to North America and can be found in various habitats, including forests, alpine meadows, tundra, and coastal areas.

Grizzly Bear's Appearance

Grizzly bears have a distinctive hump on their shoulders, which is a muscle mass that helps power their forelimbs. They are generally characterized by their brown fur, though it can range from blond to nearly black. The tips of their fur often have a grizzled or silver appearance, which gives them their name.

Grizzly Bears Size

Adult male grizzlies are typically larger than females. Males can weigh between 600 to 1,200 pounds (272 to 544 kg) or even more, while females generally weigh between 200 to 600 pounds (91 to 272 kg). Standing on their hind legs, grizzlies can reach a height of 8 feet (2.4 meters) or more.

Diet of Grizzly Bears in Nature

Grizzly bears are omnivores with a diverse diet. They feed on a variety of foods, including berries, nuts, roots, insects, small mammals, fish, and carrion. During certain times of the year, they may consume large amounts of food to build up fat reserves for hibernation.

Grizzly Bear Habitat

Grizzlies inhabit a range of ecosystems, from dense forests to open tundra and coastal areas. They can be found in different parts of North America, including Alaska, western Canada, and parts of the northwestern United States.

Grizzly Bear Behavior

Grizzly bears are generally solitary animals, although they may congregate in areas with abundant food resources. They are known for their strong sense of smell, which they use to locate food over long distances. Grizzlies are also powerful swimmers and climbers.

Bear Hibernation

During the winter, grizzly bears undergo a period of hibernation, though it's not as deep as that of some other bear species. They may still wake up occasionally and move around in their dens. Hibernation helps them conserve energy during times when food is scarce.

Conservation of Grizzly Bears

Grizzly bears have faced habitat loss and fragmentation, leading to concerns about their conservation status. They are listed as a threatened species in some areas, and conservation efforts are in place to protect their habitats and manage human-bear conflicts.

Human Interaction with Grizzly Bears

While grizzly bears are generally not aggressive towards humans, encounters can be dangerous if the bears feel threatened or if people approach too closely. It's essential for people to be informed about bear safety and take precautions when traveling in bear country.

Understanding and respecting the natural behaviors of grizzly bears is crucial for both their conservation and human safety in regions where they coexist with human populations.



Wild Grizzly Bears in North America

Wild grizzly bears are found in North America, primarily in regions of the United States and Canada. Historically, their range extended across much of western North America, from Alaska down through western Canada into the Rocky Mountains and parts of the western United States.

Grizzly Bears in Alaska

Grizzly bears are widespread throughout Alaska, and the state is home to a significant population of these bears. Alaska's diverse habitats, ranging from coastal areas to interior forests and tundra, provide suitable environments for grizzly bears.

Western Canadian Grizzly Bears

Grizzlies are found in various provinces of western Canada, including British Columbia and Alberta. The coastal rainforests, mountainous regions, and other ecosystems in these areas support grizzly bear populations.

Rocky Mountains

Grizzly bears historically inhabited the Rocky Mountains, and they can still be found in some parts of this mountain range. This includes areas in the United States, such as Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and parts of Washington.

Northwestern United States Grizzly Bears

While their range has diminished over the years due to habitat loss and human activities, there are still some grizzly bears in certain parts of the northwestern United States. This includes areas in and around the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

The distribution of grizzly bears has been impacted by factors such as habitat fragmentation, human development, and hunting. Conservation efforts and management strategies are in place to protect these bears and their habitats, and some areas have seen successful recovery programs. However, grizzly bears remain a species of concern in terms of conservation, and efforts continue to ensure their survival in the wild.



Biggest Grizzly Bear Boar in the Area

Biggest Grizzly Bear Boar in this Area of the Canadian Rockies Shows Himself.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Grizzly Family Passes Through a Hiking Hub at Dusk

Grizzly Family Passes Through a Hiking Hub at Dusk in Canada's Rockies.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

No Grizzly Bears Here!

Grizzly Bear Cub Decides to remove the Grizzly Bear Warnings in Canada's Rockies.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Relocated Grizzly Family Gets Mixed Up with a Porcupine

A Beautiful Grizzly Bear Family that had to be relocated earlier this Year All looked very Healthy until they Got Mixed Up with a Porcupine Today. While All 3 have porcupine quills in their noses and paws, Mum seems to be the only one struggling with her mouth. This Grizzly Family has been through a lot.. Hopefully this new incident does not cripple their survival any further.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Spring Grizzly Cubs Looking Good into their 3rd Year

Spring Grizzly Cubs Looking Good into their 3rd Year in Canada's Rockies.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Rambunctious Spring Grizzly Bear Cubs

Rambunctious Spring Grizzly Bear Cubs in Canada's Rockies.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Big Grizzly Mum and Spring Cubs on the Hunt for Protein

This Big Grizzly Mum is an expert in keeping her protein up with insects. Here she is teaching her Spring Cubs both how and the value of this crucial food source. The added pressure of keeping her Cubs safe and away from Big Boars forces her to hone these skills even more.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Big Grizzly Mum "Pretty Face", and Her Spring Cubs Appear at the Lake

"Pretty Face" is a very Big and Capable Grizzly Bear that has shown an incredible temperament and restraint so far, while bringing Her Spring Cubs out among so many people. While everyone loves to see this beautiful Grizzly Bear Family, we hope she finds a Great, Peaceful space away from people and other Bears very soon.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Great to See Grizzly Mum and Playful Yearlings Doing Well into Year 2

We witnessed this new Grizzly Bear Family last Year and it is Great to see them doing well this year. In another year or two, these Cubs will be on their own, but this type of relaxed play says they are happy and healthy right now.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Care Free Spring Grizzly Bear Cubs

Well-Fed Grizzly Bear Cubs are more playful more than malnourished ones. Grizzly Bear Cubs also play without vocalizing, but you may hear their playful "puffing". Grizzly Cubs play often looks like fighting but fighting is noisy, where as play like this is silent and careful.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Grizzly Bear Cubs Battle of Learning to Swim is Inescapable

In this area of Canada's Rockies, Grizzly Bears cross Athabasca River frequently. When the river water is higher and faster this time of year however, it could be life threatening for Spring Cubs. This Big Grizzly Mum decides not to risk it yet as she senses the cubs are just not ready.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Grizzly Bear Tension Rises as Mating Season Begins

While larger Male grizzly bears often intimidate and drive away smaller males during the mating season, these two are suspected of being Siblings that are close in size. We are not certain, but suspect this fight escalated as a result of the obvious and it is interesting that the third Grizzly Bear interferes, possibly showing who it favors. They are not harmed at all with being shot by these colors (paint ball type gun), and because there are so many Grizzly Bears in the area, it does help identify them.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Grizzly Bear Cub Now Dealing with Life Alone

Grizzly bear cubs typically leave their mother between the ages of 1.5 to 2.5 years old. We have now seen numerous Grizzly Bear Cubs stay with their Mother right into their 4th year, however. This is a gradual process that occurs when the cubs become more independent and capable of surviving on their own. During this time, the mother bear may begin to show signs of aggression or intolerance towards her cubs to encourage them to become more self-reliant. The exact timing can vary depending on environmental factors, availability of food, and individual circumstances. It can be a very tough time for young Grizzly Bears as there are often other much larger Bears they have to evade and compete with.. possibly the toughest time for a Cub.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Biggest Grizzly Bear Boar Seen this Year Happy with Eating Greens for Now

In Spring and early Summer, grizzly bears consume a variety of greens as part of their diet. Grizzly bears feed on new shoots and blades of grass that emerge during the spring and a wide range of herbaceous plants and forbs. These include plants like dandelions, clovers, fireweed, cow parsnip, and other flowering plants that grow in meadows, clearings, and open areas. Plant species consumed by grizzly bears vary based on their location and the availability of vegetation in their habitat. Grizzly bears are opportunistic feeders and can alter their diet according to seasonal changes and local food availability.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Grizzly Bear Pair Wrestling on Front Lawn of Cabins

Obviously, these 2 Grizzly Bears know each other very well. There seems to be a trust in this fight that nobody gets hurt.


Wild Grizzly Bears on Video

Grizzly Bears in Canada

Wild Grizzly Bears


Grizzly Bear - Brown Bear Species

Genetic science reveals the grizzly to be a subspecies of the brown bear (Ursus arctos). In North America, "brown bear" is also known as "grizzly bear", being all the same species, Ursus arctos.

Coastal grizzly bears are larger and darker than inland grizzlies. They were considered a different species from grizzlies at one time. Kodiak grizzly bears also were considered a distinct species. At that time there were five different species of brown bear, including these three in North America.



Grizzly Bear Size

Female grizzlies usually weigh 130–180 kg (290–400 lb), while adult male grizzly bears weigh on average 180–360 kg (400–790 lb). Female Grizzly Bear average weights would be 136 kg (300 lb) inland and 227 kg (500 lb) coastal. One study found that the average weight for an inland male grizzly bear was around 272 kilograms (600 pounds), and the average weight for a coastal male was around 408 kg (899 lb). Newborn grizzly bear cubs uausally weigh less than 500 grams (1.1 lb).



Grizzly Bear Fur Color

Although grizzlies color can be blond to nearly black, grizzly bear fur is usually brown with darker legs and commonly white or blond tipped fur on the flank and back.



Grizzly Bear Physical Characteristics

A large muscular hump exists on adult grizzly bear shoulders. Aside from the distinguishing hump, grizzly bears also have "dished in" face profiles with short, rounded ears.

Grizzly bear's rear end is lower than its shoulders, where as a black bear's rump is higher than its shoulders.

Grizzly bear's front claws are usually 2–4 inches in length, where as a black bear's claws measure about 1–2 inches in length.



Grizzly Bear Hibernation

Grizzly bears hibernate from 5 to 7 months each year unless they live in warm climates where they may not hibernate at all. During hibernation, female grizzly bears give birth and their offspring will consume milk from their mother for the remainder of the hibernation period.

Grizzly bears must consume an immense amount of food to prepare for hibernation. Bears can gain hundreds of pounds during the period just before hibernation called hyperphagia. In this period, grizzlies may consume up to 10 times the amount of calories compared to Spring and Summer.

Bears do not eat during hibernation. Grizzly bears do not defecate or urinate throughout the entire hibernation period. Male grizzly bears usually come out of hibernation in early to mid-March, while females emerge in April or early May.

Bears often wait for a snowstorm as a trigger to enter their den. This behavior reduces the chances that predators will find the den. Grizzly Bear dens are typically at elevations above 1,800 m (5,900 ft) on north-facing slopes.

Inland or Rocky Mountain grizzlies spend nearly half of their life in dens while coastal grizzly bears spend less time in dens. If food is very plentiful year round, grizzly bears may not hibernate at all.



Grizzly Bear Reproduction

Grizzly bears have one of the lowest reproductive rates of all land mammals in North America. Grizzly bears do not reach sexual maturity until they are at least five years old. After mating, females delay embryo implantation until hibernation, during which miscarriage can occur if the female is not in good enough condition. Female grizzly bears usually produce two cubs in a litter, with the mother caring for the cubs for up to two years before mating again.

Grizzlies are normally solitary animals, but in coastal areas, grizzlies gather around streams, lakes, rivers, and ponds during the salmon spawn. Females (sows) produce one to four cubs that are small and weigh only about 450 grams (1 lb) at birth. Unfortunately, most grizzly bear cubs do not make it through their first year due to many factors.



Grizzly Bear Lifespan

The average lifespan for a grizzly boar is estimated at 22 years, with sows living slightly longer at 26.

Females live longer than males due to their less dangerous life, as they do not fight during mating season like boars do. The oldest known wild inland grizzly was about 34 years old(Alaska), with the oldest known coastal bear being 39. Captive grizzlies have been known to live as long as 44 years.