Contrary to popular belief, the grizzly bear is not a separate species. Most scientists agree that this is a subspecies of the 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” for this bear was not called by chance. This “name” was given to him by settlers who first saw the animal in the wild forests. The color of the classic grizzly bear is not much different from the Russian brown bear, but from a distance it looks gray. “Grizzly” means “gray”.
Currently, grizzly bears live in Canada, Alaska and the United States. Moreover, 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 the parameters – “North American brown bear”.
Outwardly, grizzlies are very similar to Russian brown bears. This is a large animal, the weight of which can reach 450 kilograms. The coat is thick brownish brown. The grizzly bear is very strong. With a blow of its paw, it can break the bones of prey, and also effectively catch up with it and climb trees.
Grizzly bears
Grizzly bear lifestyle
The grizzly bear lives in dense forests, but gravitates towards the shores of lakes and rivers. This happens because fish makes up a large portion of his diet. The grizzly bear is an excellent angler. He successfully catches fish in running water, and sometimes manages to grab when the fish jumps out of the water. Coastal bears prefer salmon fish.
Grizzly bear
Not everywhere a grizzly lives has a body of water. There are also purely forest bears of this species. In this case, the fruits of plants, honey, various rhizomes, and the green mass of some plant species become food. Also, do not disdain grizzlies and carrion.
The animal has a very developed hearing and scent. Therefore, a bear can detect prey from a distance of several kilometers.
The grizzly bear is a great runner. Chasing someone, he can accelerate to a speed of 60 km / h, which leaves no chance for most applicants to be devoured.
There is an opinion that a grizzly bear is an extremely scary bear that, without hesitation, kills a meeting person. 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 bear does not feed on humans and does not attack first. There are not many known cases when the bear’s aggression towards people could not be explained. As a rule, only wounded grizzlies attack, or those to whom the person has already caused serious inconvenience. A huge variety of other living creatures on the planet, from mammals to insects, behave in exactly the same way.
Grizzly Bear Battle
Grizzly bear and man
The relationship between a grizzly and a person is wary, and on both sides. People try not to meet the bear, but he prefers not to show himself. But, as in Russia, there are circumstances that make grizzlies come to people. First of all, this is a lack of food in natural 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 must be handled with care. There are known cases of attacks on tourists, who at first actively fed the bear, and then disturbed it during a meal.
Small cubs are another matter. Born in captivity and knowledgeable from birth, they are well tamed. Grizzly bears are smart, well trained, and can even intercede for their human host.
Grizzly bear documentary
