Read more facts about Alaska's
GRIZZLY BEAR:
A lasting symbol of Alaska’s wilderness, despite the decline in its population, the Grizzly Bear has always been a powerful and imposing creature. Once found across the United States, grizzlies were hunted and killed to the point of near extinction. Today they are considered an endangered species, and the population of grizzlies in Alaska counts for 98 percent of the population nationwide.
Capable of sprinting at nearly 35 mph, these large animals are deceptively fast and athletic. Some grizzlies, when standing on hind legs, are more than nine feet tall. When they do stand upright, it is not to intimidate other bears or fearful campers—it is to see better. Like Yogi of Yellowstone, grizzlies in Alaska are famous for raiding a camper’s picnic basket. There are numerous incidents with campers every year in which a grizzly gets away with a tasty treat, leaving campers huddled in tents in fear. In the winter months, grizzlies head for dens for hibernation, a period of decreased heart rate and metabolism during which the bear lives off its own fat. In the spring or early summer, bears emerge hungry and ready for mating season. Pups are born without hair and weigh only about a pound. They tend to stay with the mother for about two years before separating.
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Grizzlies feed off berries, shrubs and small mammals, but it is most enjoyable to watch a grizzly fish. They wade into rushing rivers and gaze deeply into the water. Then suddenly, they snap their heads into the water and emerge with a fresh salmon in their mouths.
Males can weigh up to 1,400 pounds, but average between 500 pounds and 800 pounds. Females weigh considerably less, between 200 pounds and 500 pounds. The largest grizzlies are found in the coastal areas of Alaska and British Columbia, where there are plentiful sources of protein (salmon).
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