Brown bear

The brown bear (known as the grizzly in the Lower 48 states) is a large predator distinguished from black bears by a distinctive hump on the shoulders, a dished profile to the face, and long claws about the length of a human finger. Coloration is usually darkish brown but can vary from very light cream to black. The long guard hairs on their back and shoulders often have white tips and give the bears a "grizzled" appearance, hence the name "grizzly."The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a large bear distributed across much of northern Eurasia and North America. It can weigh from and its largest subspecies, the Kodiak Bear, rivals the polar bear as the largest member of the bear family (Overview page) and as the largest land-based predator. There are several recognized subspecies within the brown bear species. In North America, two types are generally recognized, the coastal brown bear and the inland grizzly, and the two types could broadly define all brown bear subspecies. Grizzlies weigh as little as 350 lb (159 kg) in Yukon, while a brown bear, living on a steady, nutritious diet of spawning salmon, from coastal Alaska and Russia can weigh 1,500 lb (682 kg). The exact number of overall brown subspecies remains in debate. While the brown bear's range has shrunk, and it has faced local extinctions, it remains listed as a least concern species by the IUCN, with a total population of approximately 200,000. Its principal range countries are Russia, the United States (mostly in Alaska), Canada, the Carpathian region (especially Romania, but also Ukraine, Slovakia, etc.), the Balkans, Sweden and Finland, where it is the national animal. The brown bear is the most widely distributed of all bears.The Alaska Science Center ranks the following as the most likely reasons for bear attacks: Surprise Curiosity Invaded personal space (this includes a mother bear protecting her young) Predatory intent Hunting wounded Carcass defense Provoked chargeUrsus arctos begins hibernation in November - December, and resumes activity in March - April The largest of living carnivores, grizzly bears are 5 - 8 feet in length from head to rump. Grizzly bears are also carnivorous, feeding on moose, caribou, mountain sheep and goats Bears have been known to live and reproduce at 25 years of age, with a potential life span of up to 35 years. Brown bears may excavate shallow depressions in which to lay, commonly referred to as day beds. Ursus arctos begins hibernation in November - December, and resumes activity in March - April, with the exact period dependent on the location, weather, and condition of the individual. The brown bear has been long considered the most dangerous animal in North America, although real danger of attack is often exaggerated. In general, brown bears attempt to avoid human contact and will not attack unless startled at close quarters with young or engrossed in a search for food. However, they are very unpredictable in temperament, and often exhibit impulsive and petulant behavior.The word "grizzly" in its name refers to "grizzled" or grey hairs in its fur, but when naturalist George Ord formally named the bear in 1815, he misunderstood the word as "grisly", to produce its biological Latin specific or subspecific name "horribilis" Alaskan Coastal Brown bear The Alaskan coastal brown bear is an intelligent and impressive animal.