Bears: Grizzly Bears
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Once feared and often mythologized, Grizzly Bears are now the subject of intense study in the biological community. It is hoped that with an added understanding of their habitat, mating rituals, and diet, the population of the Grizzly Bear will return to its once robust presence in the forest ecosystem. Grizzly Bears once lived throughout North America, Europe and Asia, but sadly this is no longer the case.
A Greater Understanding of Grizzly Bears
Some researchers posit that the legend of Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, was based on unsettling encounters with the Grizzly Bear. Standing at eight to ten feet in height, and sometimes weighing as much as 1,200 pounds, it is understandable that early explorers and fur trappers would seek to demonize this bear as a monster. However, American Indians had great respect for the Grizzly, and certain tribes held that this Bear was in fact a central figure in the creation of the natural world.
Through the classification of skull size and shape, biologists now understand that Grizzly Bears are part of a larger sub-species known as Brown Bears, which also include the Kodiak and Admiralty Bears of the Pacific coast. The Grizzly, however, tends to live further inland, and is generally smaller than its cousins on the coast. While these larger bears tend to eat a diet that consists of fish, the Grizzly relies on foraging for plant matter as well as hunting the occasional medium or large size mammal.
Grizzlies live solitary lives when they are not mating or rearing their young. The Grizzly rarely shares its territory with other adults because they need to maintain a tremendous caloric intake to build layers of fat for hibernation. Grizzly populations therefore need huge areas of untouched forest to ensure sustainable levels. As these habitats continue to shrink, the numbers of adult Grizzlies living in the wild has diminished.
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Posted on: Monday, June 23, 2008 at 2:32 pm 
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