Five Things You Didn't Know About...Grizzly Bears
Don Barry, Defenders of Wildlife
Here are five "fun facts" about grizzlies you might not have known:
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One Bear, Many Names. “Grizzly bear” is actually a geographical nickname for brown bears in inland areas of North America, due to their often lighter-colored tips of fur, giving them a “grizzled” appearance.
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Recent Arrivals. Grizzlies came to North America from Eurasia only about 50,000 years ago. They probably arrived over the same Siberian land bridge that gave rise to North America’s first human communities thousands of years later.
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Slow to Grow. Grizzly bears are one of the slowest reproducing land mammals in North America. Females do not breed until 6-8 years old, and cubs will stay with mom until they are 2-3 years old. On average, litters are only 1-3 cubs, making every female bear extremely important to the survival of the species!
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Tiny Beginnings. A newborn grizzly cub weighs about one pound. An adult male may weigh up to 850 pounds or more. That means some grizzlies grow to more than 800 times their birth weight! During the late summer and early fall, grizzly bears eat constantly to gain weight ahead of winter hibernation. Sometimes they gain as much as three pounds a day!
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The Nose Knows. A grizzly’s sense of smell is estimated to be seven times better than a hound dog. They can pick up the scent of food (or you) from miles away!
As the saying goes, we only save what we know and love. See how your support for Defenders is saving grizzlies through our innovative co-existence programs.
Thank you for your compassion and commitment to saving grizzly bears and other North American wildlife.
Sincerely,
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Don Barry Senior Vice President for Conservation Programs Defenders of Wildlife |