Grizzly Bears and Their Insatiable Appetites, Explained
Furry and adorable, or fierce and aggressive? Like many animals, the grizzly bear can be all of the above. These beauties of North America are a subspecies of brown bear that once roamed large areas of the American West. Though still common in Alaska and Western Canada, their population has dwindled in the lower 48 states. Their habitat varies widely from dense forests, to Alpine Meadows, to open plains, and arctic tundra.
They wander the land foraging and hunting, their meals dependent on the season and food availability. They are predators at the top of the food chain, but much of the grizzly bear diet consists of fruit, roots, grasses, and insects.
A number of the grizzlies’ physical characteristics center around finding and eating their meals. Grizzly bear claws are longer and less curved than those of the black bear, making them well suited to digging up plants or rodents. And with a nose more sensitive than a hound dog’s, grizzlies can detect food from miles away. Their distinctive hump is a large muscle mass that adds strength when digging. It is also one of the distinguishing differences between grizzlies and their black bear relatives.
Transcript
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NARRATOR: Furry and adorable
or fierce and aggressive?
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Like many animals, the grizzly
bear can be all of the above.
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These beauties of North America
are a subspecies of brown bear
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that once roamed large
areas of the American West.
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Though still common in
Alaska and Western Canada,
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their population has dwindled
in the lower 48 states
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with their home ranges in
rural, isolated locations.
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Their habitat varies
widely from dense forests,
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to Alpine Meadows, to open
plains, and arctic tundra.
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Grizzly bears home ranges
span up to 1,000 square miles.
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They wander the land
foraging and hunting.
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Their meals dependent on the
season and food availability.
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They are predators at the
top of the food chain.
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Though, much of the
grizzly bear diet
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consists of fruit, roots,
grasses, and insects.
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A hungry male can consume up to
40,000 moths in just one summer
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day.
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In fact, a number
of the grizzlies
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physical characteristics center
around finding and eating
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their meals.
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Grizzly bear claws
are longer and less
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curved than those
of the black bear,
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making them well suited to
digging up plants or rodents.
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And with a nose more
sensitive than a hound dog’s,
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grizzlies can detect
food from miles away.
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Their distinctive hump is
a large muscle mass that
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adds strength when digging.
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It is also one of the
distinguishing differences
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between grizzlies and
their black bear relatives.
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Running at 40 miles per
hour, adult grizzlies
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are nearly twice as fast
as the fastest humans.
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This speed is essential
when grizzlies hunt larger
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prey like elk calves.
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Grizzly bears scavenge
constantly for nutrition,
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especially during hyperphagia,
a period of two to four months
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when grizzlies can gain more
than three pounds per day
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to prepare for hibernation.
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During this period
of winter rest,
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they'll live off the
layer of built up fat,
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not needing to eat, drink,
or release any waste.
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Over the winter, a grizzly
bear can lose 15% to 30%
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of its body weight.
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They'll emerge as
the weather warms
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and food is again plentiful.
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But for females who were
pregnant before hibernation,
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they won't be alone come spring.
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For during the
hibernation period,
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they will have given
birth, often to twins.
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And the three will venture
out into the wild together,
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mother and cubs in tow.