Grizzly Bear Cubs

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.

Tiny Spring Grizzly Bear Cubs First Exploration

Tiny Spring Grizzly Bear Cubs First Exploration out in Canada's Rocky Mountains.

An Amazing Grizzly Family Today and as Newborns

Here is our first sighting of this Amazing Grizzly Family Today and as Newborns. They looked like they weathered hibernation very well! The Family were seen on Mountain Peaks in late Spring and now with some slight adjustments to their territory, down in the Valley Bottom. Many call this Famous Mother "Grizzma" as she is very well known, such a Beautiful Mother Bear, and has an amazing temperament. Along with some footage of Grizzma and Her Cubs today, we have included our First Sighting of them back in 2020, as newborns. We Hope Cubs and Mum stay together for the remainder of this year for their safety, but we can see that it may be difficult for all of them to occupy the same Den when that time comes.

Grizzly Cubs Going for a Swim in Athabasca River

These Grizzly Cubs are looking good after hibernation. Here they go for a Swim in Athabasca River, moving around quite a bit early in the season. Athabasca River is not yet high or too powerful as we have not had very many hot days, forcing fast Spring Mountain runoff. The Grizzly Cubs were newborns in 2019, now 3 years old and with one less sibling than last summer. The Grizzly Siblings could have parted ways due to Male/Female differences being more evident, which is common as they become this age.

Big Beautiful Grizzly Sow First Sighting this Year!

Our First Sighting of this Big Girl out of Hibernation was a nice surprise. She was in Great condition.. looking really Big and Strong as She begins her travels. Her Paws and Nose were never still for long as she searches for scents of substance. The beginning shows a clip of her Hunting Ground Squirrels along with when she had a newborn Cub Last Year, to compare. Her Gifted structure looks even bigger and fuller this year. We were hoping to see Her trying Motherhood again this year, but no luck on that account. Regardless, it was an incredible encounter that took place in a perfect setting with lots of safe space to observe. She is a Great Teacher that the Rockies are Lucky to Have! *We had a little fun on the beginning of this.. hope it brings a smile your way.

Grizzly and Her Newborns - First Sighting

Our First encounter with a special Grizzly Mother and her newborn cubs this year. She is such a patient and well tempered Grizzly sow and we are now lucky enough to witness her with her second set of Cubs over the last several years. It was an exciting day as we were not certain she was okay over the Winter, but clearly she was. Grizzly Bears produce only two or three cubs every three years and their survival rate is unfortunately very low. Everyone in this location of Canada's Rockies will be Cheering this family on!

Big Grizzly Bear Mum with 3 Tiny Cubs

Initially a surprise encounter, we have never seen this Grizzly Bear Sow with 3 Tiny Cubs of the Year Before Today. The most impressive Mother Bear we have seen to date, with 3 of the cutest little Grizzly Cubs.

Grizzly Cubs of the Year Playing and Exploring Canada's Rockies

Grizzly Bear Cubs of the Year Playing and Exploring Canada's Rockies in 2020. These two Grizzly cubs are so entertaining to watch while they Play. Cubs of the year mainly focus on three things.. Mother's milk, Exploring/learning, and Play!

Grizzly Bear Mum with very Healthy Newborn Cub First Appears

Grizzly Bear Mum tends to her nutritional needs while the healthiest newborn Bear Cub(cub of the year) we have seen makes a first appearance. Unfortunately, this grizzly cub does not have a sibling to play and "practice" with, but it shows the benefits of the food advantage a single cub has. This grizzly bear cub is not only very well fed, but seems to be very laid back here today.

Rare Moments with an Amazing Grizzly Bear Family

This Grizzly Bear Family with an incredible temperament is well loved in this area of Canada's Rockies. Just about to embark on Grizzly Bear mating season, Mum will have to deal with more Boars entering the area, threatening the safety of her cubs. One Boar has already been pursuing this Family over the last several days. We were very lucky to have some rare moments with this amazing Grizzly Family before they may have to disappear as mating season adjusts the mood.

Grizzly Mum with Yearlings in a Grizzly Maze Cooling off in the Athabasca River

The most well tempered Grizzly Mum with her Yearlings in the Grizzly Maze has to do a dance between protecting her cubs from other Grizzlies, navigate a very high human traffic area, as well as insure they all get nutrition. The beginning displays some nervousness as she may be smelling another mother Grizzly with 3 large cubs that also just arrived in the area. Here, GrizzMa finds a safe space to cool off in the Athabasca River on a hot day.

Big Grizzly Cubs as Newborns and Leaving Mum Today

A Rare occurrence.. Grizzly Bear Cubs from Newborns(sorry for the shake) to Sub-Adults. It's very rare for Grizzly Bear Cubs to make it this far, and especially 3 Siblings together. They just left their Mother a short time ago and are finding their space together. Here the Grown Cubs become separated, but never venture far as we witness them reunite late the next evening. Their exceptional noses prove to be their most powerful tool in keeping together. As a Unit, these Grizzly Bear Cubs stand a much better chance of survival.

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.

Grizzly Bear Cubs