Where are grizzlies found? Grizzly bear: description with photo, where it lives, how much it weighs, what is the maximum running speed of a grizzly bear, watch videos online

The gray bear is a real ferocious and ruthless killer.

On his account, dozens of human lives, a strong and powerful structure of the beast, makes the victim tremble in front of a pile of bear muscles.

A wild forest animal has a huge size, if a gray bear stands on its hind legs, then its height will be 2.5 meters. The weight of a wild animal can reach from 385 - 408 kg.

On the back of the neck, there is a powerful hump, which gives him incredible strength, thanks to which he can play with 50 kilogram stones with his front paws. Fur color is dark brown.

Also, with one blow of the front paw, it can put to death wild elk or a small relative. The closest relatives are - brown bears. This type self-confident predator, can afford to attack any animal and even a person.

He knocks the victim to the ground, tearing the flesh with his long claws and powerful sharp teeth. It is almost impossible to escape from a grizzly attack. He does this because he considers himself the master of the forest.

The gray bear has poor eyesight, which can provoke him to aggressive behavior. The back llamas also have powerful muscles, if the bear is stalking the victim, then at the most opportune moment it can attack it in a jump and take it by surprise.

Grizzly bear, common in the Americas:

• Alaska;
• Canada;
• Montana (Yellowstone);
• Northwest Washington;

They migrated from Asia to North America, according to some sources, fifty thousand years ago, according to others, a hundred thousand years ago. The bear population has drastically declined over the past century.

According to official data, in 2000 there were about 250 of them, and by 2005, 600 individuals.

Gray grizzly bear - lives in dense forests North America. Leads a secretive lifestyle, under the cover of night can visit nearby farms. Each predatory individual marks its territory, scratches tree trunks with huge non-retractable claws and leaves noticeable marks on them.

Food

The bear's daily diet includes:

1. Mice;
2. Proteins;
3. Birds;
4. Berries;
5. Fruit;

Despite its huge size, the wild beast develops speed when running more than 55 km/h. It will not be difficult for him to catch a squirrel or a mouse. He is an omnivore, always willing to eat. There were cases when the bear opened the hunters' car like a tin can in search of food.

Bear Seasonal Diet

Having gained a sufficient amount of fat, the beast prepares for hibernation. Tries to predict weather and at the most crucial moment lies in a lair. A snowstorm clouds the base of the hole, and the bear sleeps warmly until early spring. In hibernation, he loses 1 kilogram of weight per day.

The mating season of grizzly bears begins in mid-May, the whole process takes no more than a month. While searching for females, the male begins to growl loudly, thereby attracting females to his territory.

There are funny cases when two tall bears sort things out for the right to impregnate them. Each predator has a harem of three or four females. During marriage ritual he protects them from rivals. But females prefer to mate with two or three males.

After 8 - 9 months, the female brings a litter in the amount of 2 - 3 cubs. Babies are born blind and deaf, covered with sparse hair, weighing no more than 500 grams, and their length does not exceed 25 cm.

Only the female is involved in the rearing process. After 3 - 4 months, babies become a size that is comparable to the size of a dog. They develop slowly, only after 3-4 years they become independent and leave their mother. The young organism of a grizzly bear grows up to 11 - 13 years.

AT wild nature gray grizzly bears live from 20 to 25 years.

• Huge individuals living along the coast of Alaska reach huge size. The growth of the animal is more than 3 meters and weighs up to 1 ton.
• In search of food, the bear can dig deep holes. Powerful front paws and sharp long non-retractable claws help him in this.
• If you frighten a forest predator, then it is guaranteed to attack the offender.
• Met in modern practice, cannibal bears who hunted unsuspecting tourists in the forests. Sometimes it took years to figure out a cannibal bear and eliminate it.

Contrary to popular belief, the grizzly is not an independent species. Most scientists agree that this is a subspecies of a simple brown bear. However, many legends and conjectures are associated with it, rooted in the deep past.

Who is a grizzly bear?

The word "Grizzly" this bear started calling not by chance. This “name” was given to him by settlers who first saw the animal in wild forests. The color of the classic grizzly is not much different from the Russian brown bear, but from a distance it looks gray. "Grizzly" means "grey".

Currently, grizzly bears live in Canada, Alaska and the United States. And the main part is in Alaska. By the way, the name "grizzly" is extremely controversial. So much so that some teachings do not recognize it and prefer to call all bears that fit in the parameters - "North American brown bear."

Outwardly, grizzlies are very similar to Russian brown bears. This is a large animal, whose weight can reach 450 kilograms. The coat is thick brownish-brown in color. Grizzly is very strong. With a paw strike, it can break the bones of prey, as well as effectively catch up with it and climb trees.

Grizzly bear lifestyle

Grizzly lives in dense forests, but tends to the shores of lakes and rivers. This happens because a large proportion of his diet is fish. Grizzlies are excellent anglers. He successfully catches fish in running water, and sometimes manages to grab when the fish jumps out of the water. Bears living in coastal areas prefer salmon fish.

Not everywhere where grizzlies live, there is a body of water. There are also purely forest bears of this species. In this case, the fruits of plants, honey, various rhizomes, the green mass of some plant species become food. Also do not disdain grizzlies and carrion.

The animal has a highly developed sense of hearing and smell. Therefore, a bear can detect prey from a distance of several kilometers. The Grizzly is an excellent runner. Chasing someone, he can accelerate to a speed of 60 km / h, which leaves no chance for most applicants to be eaten.

There is an opinion that the grizzly is an extremely scary bear that, without hesitation, kills the person it meets. In fact, in this regard, it also differs little from the classic Siberian bear. Yes, an attack on a person is possible, but not necessary. The grizzly does not feed on humans and is not the first to attack. There are not many cases where the bear's aggression towards humans could not be explained. As a rule, only wounded grizzlies attack, or those who have already been seriously inconvenienced by a person. A huge number of other living beings on the planet behave in the same way - from animals to insects.

grizzly and man

Grizzly and human relations are wary, and on both sides. People try not to meet the bear, but he prefers not to be seen. But, as in Russia, there are circumstances that make grizzlies come to people. First of all, it is the lack of food in vivo a habitat. In search of food, grizzlies visit farm plantations and tourist camps, go to settlements.

Such visits, as a rule, do not end well. The bear is a wild animal and should be handled with care. There are known cases of attacks on tourists who first actively fed the bear, and then disturbed during the meal.

Another thing is little bear cubs. Born in captivity and from birth those who know the person, they are well tamed. Grizzly bear cubs are smart, well-trained, and can even stand up for their human owner.

The grizzly bear is one of the largest predators on earth. Photos and videos of the North American giant confirm this - this clubfoot is a very large and strong beast.

The species of brown bears is distributed almost everywhere the globe. This species is represented by a huge variety of subspecies occupying a particular territory on our planet. The mainland of North America is inhabited by one of the varieties of brown bears - the grizzly bear. These "clubfoot" are representatives predatory mammals bear families and belong to.

Translated from Latin, the name of this bear, Horribilis, means "terrible" or "ferocious." But are grizzly bears really such terrible and treacherous creatures?

Appearance and origin of the name "grizzly"

Like all representatives, grizzlies have many similarities with their counterparts. external signs, but there are some differences. For example, the fur of a grizzly is slightly lighter than that of other representatives of the "brown" species. hallmark can be called and much larger sizes. The body length of an adult grizzly reaches from 220 to 280 centimeters, and the weight is about 500 kilograms. According to scientists, there were grizzlies that had a body up to four meters long!

Representatives of this subspecies of brown bears have very strong and strong jaws and powerful claws, which makes it very dangerous predator, with whom you do not really want to engage in a fight.

The coat has a special color: the hairs on the neck, abdominal part and shoulders are dark brown, and at the ends are painted in a light tone. From a distance it seems that the bear is gray-haired. This quality gave the name to the entire subspecies, because grizzly (grizzly) in English means “gray-haired”.

The habitat of "gray-haired" bears

Grizzlies occupy the territory of the Alaska Peninsula (USA), are found in the west of the state of Canada. Separate populations have survived in the north of Idaho (USA) - in the Rocky Mountains, in the western part of Montana and northwestern Wyoming. In addition, they are found in the mountains of Washington state.

Grizzly behavior in nature

The lifestyle is very similar to the common brown bear. These are solitary animals. In the cold season, grizzlies also hibernate. Young grizzly bears freely climb trees. But adult bears are excellent swimmers.

Grizzlies are excellent fishermen, but they can boast not only this skill: with the same ease they ruin bee hives and feast on sweet honey.

From natural habitats, it chooses swamps and river banks.

What does a ferocious grizzly eat?

Despite the fact that representatives of this subspecies are predators, their main food is, nevertheless, vegetation. True, they can also eat animal food: fish, meat of wild animals. Hunting for big game is carried out only by rare individuals.

Breeding in North American Grizzlies

AT last month spring begins for these bears mating season. Males arrange real fights for the female they like. However, this does not prevent the she-bear from mating with several males.

A bear's pregnancy lasts about 6-8 months. At the end of this time, usually two or three cubs are born. Babies are born deaf and blind. Their height is only 25 centimeters, and they weigh no more than half a kilogram. Only mother brings up "babies", fathers-bears do not do this.

Grizzly, sometimes called the gray bear, is a subspecies of the common brown bear. This one large predator North America is famous for its unpredictable behavior and is considered extremely dangerous.

HABITAT

The grizzly bear is common in northern North America. Its abode is endless coniferous and deciduous forests Canada and the northern states of the USA, as well as the expanses of Alaska. Grizzlies are perfectly adapted to life in the harsh climate of these regions.

LIFESTYLE

The grizzly bear leads the life of a solitary hermit, not setting clear boundaries for his home plot. The animal roams freely over a vast territory. in every possible way avoiding contact with other representatives of his species. Coming out of the winter lair in the spring, the bear embarks on wanderings with the sole purpose of satisfying his hunger. The daily routine of an animal includes only three important items: food, rest and sleep. The grizzly's rich diet includes young shoots of plants, ripe fruit and berries, nuts, insects, grubs and, of course, honey. The beast never misses an opportunity to feast on bird eggs, hunt frogs and reptiles, or catch fatty fish. An adult predator is capable of killing a noble or reindeer but tends to favor young, old, or sick animals. In the case of a successful hunt, one deer carcass is enough for him for a whole week. Like other bears, grizzlies are not averse to carrion. Wandering in search of prey, the beast rests in temporary lairs dug in the ground or in rock crevices. At the time when the salmon goes to spawn, gangs of bears gather along the banks of rivers and streams. Being excellent swimmers, these animals are not afraid of even the most turbulent streams. Each bear uses a rich arsenal of fishing techniques: some, having entered the water, plunge their heads and grab the salmon with their mouths, others first press the fish to the bottom with their paws, and then pull it ashore. Some craftsmen deftly grab a fish in the air with their teeth when it jumps out to overcome the rapids. Having carried the catch ashore, the beast proceeds to the meal. During the spawning season, the bears gorge themselves to the bone to accumulate a thick layer of fat for the long northern winter. In the autumn, having found a convenient place, the grizzly arranges a den in it and after the first snowfall, it hibernates. His winter sleep is shallow and more like a light nap. During thaws, the grizzly wakes up and leaves the den to eat something. As soon as hard frosts hit again, the bear returns to his winter shelter and finally leaves it only with the arrival of spring warmth.

SECURITY

In the past, the grizzly bear was widespread throughout almost all of North America: as early as the beginning of the 20th century, about 100,000 of these animals lived on the continent. Degradation natural environment and hunting led to a sharp decline in the grizzly population, and in 1975 this mighty predator was taken under state protection. Currently, grizzlies live in reserves and national parks such as Yellowstone, Jasper, Katmai, Waterton Glacier and Wood Buffalo. Zoologists estimate that today about 5,000 grizzlies live in Canada and Alaska, and no more than 300 south of these territories.

BREEDING

The mating season for grizzlies is dated for the month of June. Smelling the smell of a female in estrus from afar, the male rushes after her and immediately proceeds to courtship. In the midst of love games, the partner purrs softly and gently pokes his nose into the scruff or back thighs of his chosen one. After spending several days together, the partners go in different directions. Fertilized eggs are implanted in the walls of the uterus, but begin to develop only in the fall. A grizzly's pregnancy lasts about 250 days, but for full development 180 days is enough for embryos. The cubs will be born in snowy January, in a warm lair prepared ahead of time by their mother. As a rule, the female brings two or three cubs weighing from 400 to 700 g. The babies are born blind, naked and toothless and for several months are in the den under the gentle care of their mother, eating only her milk. In April or May, the grown cubs leave the shelter and begin to get acquainted with the outside world under the vigilant supervision of the parent, who gradually accustoms them to solid food. Everywhere following the mother, the kids explore the surroundings, learn to get food, master the skills of hunting and spend a lot of time in fun.

With the approach of cold weather, the she-bear looks for a spacious shelter in which she spends the winter with her cubs. Despite maternal care, many cubs become victims of single adult males. In the second year of life, young grizzlies gain independence and leave their mother. Females become sexually mature at three, and males at four years of age. An adult female enters estrus once every two years.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Grizzly teeth are adapted to a mixed diet. Powerful fangs give out a typical predator in an animal, and large molars with wide rubbing surfaces make it possible to thoroughly chew plant food. The number of premolars in each animal can vary greatly.
• The claws of the front paws are much longer than the hind ones (5-7 cm) and are sharp as daggers from constant abrasion against stones. This powerful weapon allows the beast to kill a large deer with one blow of its paw.
• The unusually wide paws are designed to support the grizzly's massive body. The length of the foot of an adult is 15-35 cm, and the width is 8-18 cm.

RELATED SPECIES

All bears are easily recognizable by their characteristic physique. Species living in regions with a cold climate are omnivorous, but eat a large number of meat, including carrion. Inhabitants of warmer regions feed mainly on fruits and tender shoots of plants, supplementing their diet with insects and honey.

is the only bear that lives in South America. Inhabits forests growing on the slopes of the Andes; feeds on fruits, roots, leaves (even prickly ones) and young seedlings.

Gubach- lives in the forests and grassy steppes of the Hindustan subcontinent. It feeds on ants, termites, fruits, bird eggs and honey.

Grizzly (from the English. Grizzly bear - gray bear) - the name of one or more American subspecies of the brown bear.

Translated from Latin, the name of this bear, Horribilis, means "terrible" or "ferocious."

Grizzly bear habitat

As a rule, the gray grizzly chooses harsh, hard-to-reach places for living, where the neighborhood of a person does not interfere with it. Alaska and northern Canada are the main habitat for 98% of these mammals.

Small populations live in the northern United States. The Rocky and Cascade Mountains also sometimes become their haven.

By the beginning of the last century, the number of this species of bears was about 100 thousand individuals. The reason for the sharp decrease in the population was excessive aggressiveness.

Appearance of a grizzly bear

The fur of the grizzly is slightly lighter than that of the other representatives of the brown bears. A distinctive feature can be called a significantly large size. The body length of an adult grizzly reaches from 220 to 280 centimeters, and the weight is about 500 kilograms. According to scientists, there were grizzlies that had a body up to four meters long!

The grizzly has very strong and strong jaws and powerful claws, which makes it a very dangerous predator.

The coat has a special color: the hairs on the neck, abdominal part and shoulders are dark brown, and at the ends are painted in a light tone. From a distance it seems that the bear is gray-haired.

Grizzly bear lifestyle

A characteristic feature of the character of a gray bear is its fearlessness. Combining this trait with great strength makes his opponents almost impossible to win.

The victim in a matter of minutes will be torn apart by strong teeth and powerful claws. An animal can easily cope with a wild bison, and livestock is simply panic fear in front of him.

Before a man, a bear does not feel a sense of fear and can kill him with one blow. The ferocious animal also attacks armed people, especially if it is wounded.

Attacks on a person are quite rare, but it is almost impossible to escape. The animal can reach speeds of up to 60 km per hour and is an excellent swimmer. Sometimes an animal prefers to hide as soon as it senses a person.

Grizzly prefers loneliness and tries not to contact with his relatives. The most frequent conflicts between representatives of these animals are observed during the mating season.

Hibernation is common for grizzlies. For lying, a hill is selected, small in size. After being covered with snow, it is turned into a lair. The animal does not fall into a deep sleep, rather this state is a light nap.

In the event of a thaw, the animal leaves the home and looks for food. With the resumption of frost, it returns back and falls asleep again before the onset of warm times. It has been estimated that bears sleep half of their lives.

Grizzly bear food

After the end of hibernation, the bear begins to intensively look for food. These representatives of the order of predators are omnivores. Grizzlies prefer plant foods.

Their main food: young shoots, nuts, berries, tree fruits, algae and roots. Bird eggs, insects and their larvae, as well as reptiles are used as a delicacy. In just one day, a grizzly is able to absorb up to 40 thousand butterflies.

Carrion is also grizzly food. The beast smells her at a distance of 30 km. A deer killed by a bear provides him with food for a week. However, the animal prefers to prey on sick, weak or young animals.

Fish is a grizzly delicacy. During the salmon spawning period, bears gather in groups on the shore and distribute fishing areas among themselves. They catch fish with their mouths or with the help of wide paws. Some bears manage to grab it on the fly when it jumps out of the water.

Bear cubs mainly indulge in honey, because at a young age they can climb a tree. Before hibernation the bear begins polygaphia - a feeling of constant hunger. This is understandable, since before going to bed you need to gain as much fat as possible.

Grizzly bear breeding

The mating season for grizzlies is usually in June. It was at this time that males are able to smell females even at a very long distance, amounting to several kilometers. Grizzlies stay in a pair for no more than ten days, after which they return to the solitary lifestyle already familiar to this species.

Unfortunately, not all cubs manage to survive and grow up. Sometimes babies become very easy prey for hungry adult grizzly males and other predators.

Carrying offspring by the female takes about 250 days, after which two or three cubs are born in January-February. Average weight a newborn bear cub, as a rule, does not exceed 410-710 g. Grizzly cubs are born not only naked, but also blind, as well as completely toothless, therefore nutrition in the first months is represented exclusively by mother's milk.

The first time the cubs go out Fresh air from the den only in late spring, around the end of April or beginning of May. It is from this moment that the female begins to gradually accustom her offspring to independently obtaining food.

With the approach of cold snap, the she-bear and cubs begin to search for a new, more spacious den. Bear cubs become independent only in the second year of life, when they are already able to get enough food for themselves. Females reach sexual maturity only at three years, and males - about a year later.

Grizzly bear population status and conservation

Currently, grizzlies are under protection, so their main habitat is represented by national parks on the territory of America.

The total grizzly population today is approximately fifty thousand individuals.