Alaska Brown Bear
Ursus arctos
Range: Alaska Brown Bears can be found in the coastal region
of Southern Alaska.
Habitat: Wide variety of habitats including tundra, forests,
and subalpine grasslands
Diet: Omnivorous with a diet that includes grass, berries, fish, deer, elk, and other small mammals.
However, most bears will not expend the energy necessary to hunt large prey. Meals that consist of
large animals are usually carrion.
Lifespan: Average of 20-25 years
Description: Alaska Brown Bears are the second largest type of brown bear in the world after the
Kodiak bear. They measure about 8 feet in length and have a shoulder height of about 4-4.5 feet.
The average weight of a male is about 900lbs, but there has been some individuals reported to be
approximately 1500 lbs. Their fur is typically brown in color with white tips. A pronounced hump
appears on their shoulder. They get their name from the long guard hairs that give the bear a
“grizzled” appearance. In comparison, grizzly brown bears stand about 3’ tall at the shoulder and
weigh between 200-800 lbs. Brown bears can be distinguished from black bears by the noticeable
hump between their shoulders. The largest brown bear is the Kodiak bear, standing about 5’ at the
shoulder and weighing up to 1500 lbs.
Breeding: Mating season occurs from May through the middle of July. Pregnant females must store
as much fat as possible during the summer months to provide for her cubs which are born while the
mother is hibernating in her den for the winter. Females will can have groups of 1-3 young, but have
been seen with as many as 6, possibly caused by adopting cubs from other litters. Cubs will stay with
their mothers for 2-4 years. As a result, it is usually 4 years between litters. Many cubs die during the
years they spend with their mothers, often due to cannibalization by adult male bears.
Behavior/Adaptations: Brown bears live a solitary life except when mating, raising cubs, and in
areas where prey is extremely abundant. Large groups of bears can be seen together during the
salmon run in Alaska. A majority of brown bears hibernate during the winter and need to consume
large quantities of food during the summer and fall to build up their fat stores. Brown bears are
naturally diurnal (awake during the day), but can become nocturnal if competition for food or space
forces a change in habit. Even though they are very large, brown bears are capable of extremely
rapid movement. They can run up to 30 mph in short bursts.
Predators: Humans
Conservation: Brown bears are listed as least concern with a stable population due to their large
range. The majority of the brown bear population in the lower 48 states is listed as “Threatened”
under the Endangered Species Act. The Yellowstone Park population was declared recovered and
taken off the threatened list in 2007. Harvesting of the Alaskan population is highly regulated. The
biggest threat to brown bear survival in the lower 48 is contact with humans. Many bears come in
contact with humans and are destroyed after being labeled “problem bears”. Habitat loss is the main
threat to brown bears worldwide.
Interesting Facts:
Brown bears are one of the most widely distributed animals on earth. They can be found
across must of the Northern Hemisphere.
Only brown Bears located in the interior of North America are called “Grizzly” bears. The
grizzly name come from their grizzled fur, which is brown with white tips.
Male bears are called boars, females are called sows, and babies are referred to as cubs.
Information taken from the following sources:
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