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Grizzly Bear

Ursus arctos

Grizzley Bear at Henry Vilas Zoo

About Grizzly Bear

Did you know that the grizzly bear is a type of brown bear? Native to North America, grizzly bears can hibernate for up to seven months during the winter season — they can even go months without using the bathroom!

Habitat

Grizzly bears live in forests and scrublands in Canada and the United States.

Diet

The grizzly bear will eat just about anything. Pine nuts, moths, berries, roots, and bulbs make up the majority of their diet throughout the year.

Family Life

Grizzly bears begin mating in the spring and summer. Female grizzlies experience “delayed implantation,” meaning that when a female becomes pregnant, the embryo stops developing for several months. Once the mother enters hibernation, the embryo will begin gestation. A few months later, she will welcome one to four cubs. Interestingly, cubs in the same litter can have different fathers.

Conservation Status

The conservation status of the Grizzly Bear is classified as vulnerable.
Vulnerable graphic

Threats

Facts about Grizzly Bear

  • Class:
    Mammalia (mammals)
  • Order:
    Carnivora (carnivores)
  • Family:
    Ursidae (bears)
  • Genus:
    Ursus (bears)
  • Species:
    Ursus arctos (grizzly bear)
  • Life Span:
    22 – 26 years (wild) / 44 years (zoo)
  • Size:
    4 feet (1.2 m) at the shoulder
  • Weight:
    300 – 800 pounds (136 – 363 kg)
  • Length:
    6.5 feet (2 m)

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