< >
Northwest Wildlife Online
Order Carnivora Family Ursidae: The Bears
eBooks.com This is the widest collection of Nature and Wildlife ebooks that I have found on the net. If you like science you'll LOVE this site. Tremendous selection of other titles as well.
Birds Mammals Reptiles Amphibians Fish Invertebrates Library NWWOL Online Store Home
Mission Editor Bio Site Map Contact Wildlife Park Links Further Study Wild Employment Northwest Trek
On the left is a slumbering Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horriblis) 8 feet nose to tail; up to 1000 pounds. Grizzlies are a sub species of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos). The Black Bear (Ursus americanus) on the right comes in at 5 feet nose to tail and up to 300 pounds. Black bears come in many color variations and are the most common and widespread bear in North America. For in depth information on bears visit this excellent site: Brown Bear Resources
Two Species of Family Usidae represent wildlife in the Northwest:
Black Bear Ursus americanus
Grizzly Bear - Ursus arctos
The family of animals we know as Usidae, the Bears, is a diverse worldwide variety of wildlife. Bears live naturally in every region of the world except Africa, Madagascar, Australia, and Antarctica. Generally lovers of temperate regions bears have established themselves in many different climates. From the Polar Bear of the northern arctic to the Malayan Sun Bear of tropical Asia the family Usidae has proven itself to be exceptionally adaptable. Eight genera and ten species of bears exist today.
North America bears are generally grouped into four categories. In descending order of size they are: Kodiak, Polar, Brown or Grizzly, and Black bear. There may be some legitimate argument between Kodiak and Polar for the title of largest bear, but there is no argument over this - the Kodiak, Polar, and Grizzly bears are the largest land carnivores on earth. Even the mighty Siberian Tiger is overshadowed.
Before going further a necessary note about bear classification has to be made. Although North American bears are generally thought of in the four groupings noted above, Grizzlies and Kodiaks are actually sub species of the Brown Bear (Ursos arctos). And there is argument about two other possible Brown bear sub species - Ursos arctos gyas and Ursos arctos macfarlani. So if you are confused don't feel bad because the experts are too.
The Northwest is home to the Grizzly Bear and the Black Bear. Relatively small compared to their way up north neighbors, they are both large animals compared to the standard human. With lengths of up to 8 feet and a weight of over 1000 pounds, the grizzly is by far our largest Northwest bear. At a mere 5 feet long and 200 to 300 pounds, the black bear is relatively small, but don't tell that to those of us who have run into one in the woods. They seem a lot bigger when you are face to face with them.
The Grizzly is a true son of the Northwest. Though once common throughout the Great Plains they now mainly confined to Alaska, the northwest corner of America, and western Canada. The northern most part of Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming is the last wild Grizzly territory in the lower forty eight states. Like most bears the Grizzly will eat anything from deer to blueberry, but his size, speed, and power assures him of an unlimited buffet. He has no compunction about attacking and eating an elk, tearing into roots and bulbs, gorging in a berry patch, chomping on snakes and lizards, or scavenging a month old carcass.
Grizzly strength is legendary. Carcasses weighing hundreds of pounds are dragged long distances and in their never ending search for food grizzlies often overturn enormous boulders, logs, or anything else that gets in the way. The distinctive hump behind between the shoulders is a great hunk of muscle designed to deliver that tremendous power. Generally grizzlies are content to forage and the majority of their diet is vegetarian. Every salmon season, though, nature provides a welcome change to the palate.
The Grizzly Bear has acute hearing and an extraordinary sense of smell. Like most bears, though, its eyesight is weak. Grizzlies den up in the winter for extended periods of sleep, but do not truly hibernate. Mating occurs in the summer, but delayed implantation ensures that the young are not born until January or February when one to four cubs, the normal litter size, pop out. The little ones suckle and grow while mom sleeps and by April or May mother and babies are ready to leave the den in search of food.
Black Bears are our most numerous and widespread bear. Besides the Northwest I have seen them in Florida, New York, Alaska, and Canada. Adaptable and intelligent, the Black bear is present in more places, and much closer, than most people imagine. Black bear scat is a sure sign. It's very distinctive, you won't mistake it for that of a large dog, and they often leave recognizable claw marks on certain trees in their territory.
I rarely use pictures that I have not taken myself or for that I cannot credit, but these remarkable photos above have been making the rounds of the internet lately and were sent to me. They were simply too good to ignore. Looking at these photos it is easy to see why this animal has adapted so well and is widespread across America.
Black bears do not hunt to the extent of their grizzly colleagues, but will attack and eat deer, especially fawns. Most of the diet, however, is a combination of fruits, roots, berries, and a wide ranging variety of vegetation. They will go to extraordinary and sometimes comical lengths to get honey. Their obvious delight in human garbage is not just notorious, it's often a nuisance.
A lot of black bears are black, but a lot aren't. Color patterns run from dark black to light brown and even a whitish tint often depending on range. Like grizzlies their sense of hearing and smell are extremely good, but eyesight is not.
Black bears are not true hibernators but do den up for long periods of time and awake periodically. Black bears mate in June and July, and in the Northwest den around November. Like their big cousins, delayed embryo implantation results in cub birth sometime in January. The typical family is two to three cubs.
A recent trend of poaching black bears for their paws and gall bladders has arisen in the US and Canada. So far bear populations are not threatened but the trend is disturbing. The black market demand for bear parts is part of an inexplicable belief that certain organs enhance health and sexual performance.
Although black bears may live closer to your backyard than you suspect, you are unlikely to encounter one. These animals are normally shy and solitary. They hear and smell you long before you see them. Should an unexpected encounter occur, however, experts advise backing away slowly while facing the bear. Be particularly wary of a black bear that stamps its fore paws or snaps its teeth. These are clear signs that the bear is telling you to leave - ASAP.
Birds
Mammals
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
Invertebrates
Library
NWWOL Online Store
Home
Mission Editor Bio Site Map Contact Wildlife Park Links Further Study Wild Employment Northwest Trek