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Picture source:
Alan and Sandy Carey Photography
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Grizzly Bears - Status
Under the Endangered Species Act in 1975, Grizzly bears were listed as threatened. It was a result of enormous hunting from the 1900's up to the 1970's. Grizzly bear numbers began to decline since 1850, when European settlers arrived to America. Identifiable populations of Grizzly bears survived in five areas: the Northern Continental Divide, Greater Yellowstone, Cabinet-Yaak, Selkirk, and North Cascade ecosystems. In Canada there exist much more Grizzlies than in the USA. In Canada it is a vulnerable species and in the province of Alberta Grizzlies are at risk.
Human-caused mortality and habitat loss are the main causes for Grizzly bears' population decline. The low population density of Grizzly bears and low reproductive rate make them very sensitive to population decline. Being sensitive, Grizzlies serve as good indicators of how well their habitat is being managed.
Grizzly Bears - Diet
When Grizzly bears come out of their dens in spring, little food is available for them. They have to travel in search for carcasses of various animals that have not survived the winter. Other food is fresh shoots of grasses, especially "bear root," and over wintered berries. This kind of food can be found along the steep slopes that face south.
Later Grizzlies concentrate on river valleys and eat a lot of plants, dig roots and sometimes hunt for calves of elk and moose. In summer, Grizzlies feed rather successfully on the larvae of ants and wasps as well as catch fish. In August, Grizzlies shift their diet to berries. Occasionally the Grizzly bear eats small mammals (mice, squirrels) and vertebrates. When the opportunity arises, these animals eat human food and garbage. Grizzly bears can become conditioned to such food and become a threat to human safety.
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Picture source:
Bald Mountain Air Service © 2003
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Grizzly Bears - Conservation Links
A Rationale for Habitat Preservation - What a Grizzly bear population requires to be stable.
Bioregion Spotlight: Grizzly Bears - A project of connection isolated Grizzly bear populations.
Brown Bear Resources - Read about the Grizzly bear population in the USA and what measures are taken to protect them.
Canadian Rockies Grizzly - University-based Grizzly bear research in and nearby Banff National Park. Data on population dynamics, habitat selection applied to understanding cumulative effects on Grizzly bears.
Colorado's Wildlife. Grizzly Bears - A problem of reintroduction of Grizzlies onto Colorado where they lived once.
Defenders of Wildlife - Learn how you can help save Grizzly bears from extirpation. Projects for adopting and sponsoring bears.
Delisting Threatens Yellowstone Grizzly Bears - Threats to Grizzlies and what Grizzlies need.
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Picture source:
Wildlife Learning Exchange
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Great Bear Rainforest Campaign - A project on saving the habitat of Grizzly bears.
Grizzly Bear and Black Bear Ecology - How DNA fingerprinting tools are being used to answer questions about bear ecology in a Classier Park.
Grizzly Bear Committee - Organization created in 1983 to lead the recovery of the Grizzly bear in the lower 48 states. Includes up-to-date information on "bear spray".
Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy - Learn about several projects on protecting Grizzly bears and their habitat in the USA.
Grizzly Bear Recovery - A view on all 5 Grizzly bear habitats in the USA.
Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone - Read about the largest and the most diverse habitat of Grizzly bears.
Grizzly Bear Reintriduction - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to withdraw plan to reintroduce Grizzly bears into Bitteroot ecosystem.
Grizzly Bears in the Wild - Researchers report their findings on grizzlies in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. Find FAQs and learn of the program to bring cubs to the wild.
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Picture source:
Company of Adventurers
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Grizzly Bears in Yellowstone National Park - Grizzly biology and problems of reintroduction to their former habitats.
Grizzly Discovery Center - Located in Grizzly Park at the West entrance of Yellowstone National Park, the Grizzly Discovery Center offers views rarely, if ever, seen in the wild. Here you'll discover firsthand the habits and surprisingly playful behaviors of grizzly bears and a gray wolf pack.
Saving Berries for the Bears - Information about a proposal to protect Grizzly bear foods and Grizzly bear habitat during forestry operations.
The Grizzly Bear Center - Bear research, education and conservation program.
Vital Ground. Grizzlies - The Vital Ground Foundation works to preserve America's wild heritage by protecting critical ecosystems on private lands that support and sustain Grizzly bears - America's umbrella species and nature's barometer of a healthy and whole environment.
Yellow Stone to Yukon Conservation Initiative - A search for the ideal place where Grizzly bears could live peacefully.
