Kingdom animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order carnivora
Family Ursidae
Gender ursus
SpeciesUrsus arctos
Grizzly bears, like other animals of the genus Ursus, have a heavy body, short tail and non-retractable claws, and are quite sharp. The fur is long and thick, and the color varies between white, golden and dark brown.
They are found in Siberia, Alaska, northern Mexico, Himalayas and North Africa. As there are several subspecies (over 90), weight and size can vary greatly. The biggest one, the kodiak bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi) can be up to three meters, and reach 800 kilos. Therefore, they are among the largest animals of the Ursus genus, along with polar bears.
They have the ability to run up to 50km/h, swim, climb trees and also remain upright, balancing on their hind legs. Omnivores, their diet includes honey, fruits, larvae, moths, fish, small rodents and carrion from large animals. Some individuals may invade crops and homes in search of food. This is mainly due to habitat loss, and can be a risk for both species.
Once heavily hunted, they came to be protected. This fact caused their populations to increase again, and a lot, justifying why, according to the Union International for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, IUCN, are at minimal risk of extinction. Currently, hunting is allowed, with reservations: the licenses only authorize those who are injured and/or with dangerous behavior.
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They live alone, uniting only during reproduction, or during the period when the puppies are still with their mother, which lasts around three years. They reach their sexual maturity at the age of six, approximately, and can have offspring until they are thirty, that is, until the end of their lives. Gestation lasts between six and nine months, giving rise to two offspring, usually being breastfed for the first six months of their lives.
During the winter, they are confined in caves or caves, and spend this period in a state of estivation. Your metabolism slows down, returning to normal when environmental conditions are favorable. Despite common sense saying the opposite, it is not hibernation, as the body temperature of these animals does not match that of the environment, and they are not lethargic.
By Mariana Araguaia
Graduated in Biology
