|
Description:Brown bears have a stocky body, short legs, thick, strong bones, a concave profile and large feet. There are five toes on each paw with claws that are non-retractable. The fur of a brown bear has many variations of color, from cream to cinnamon and brown to black. The long thick fur insulates against snow and freezing waters. The long hair may have gray tips, creating a grizzled look hence the name “grizzly bear”.
Brown bear have a distinguishing shoulder hump that is a mass of muscle that helps the bear lift their head and gives the front legs great strength. Brown bear have a short stubby tail like all bears do.
Brown bears have carnivore sharp canine teeth but molars are broader and flatter for chewing plant matter. The brown bears powerful jaws and long canines allow the bear to kill, eat and carry a heavy prey animal. A bear can be aged by counting the rings of a tooth.
Their weight varies widely throughout the year. The average size is difficult to pinpoint as it depends on the food source available. A female can weigh 270-770 lbs at 8 years. A male can weigh 330-1150 lbs at 12 years. A large Kamchatka male bear may reach 1,300 lbs and stand 10 feet tall. Coastal bears are larger than inland bears because their diet is rich in fatty salmon.
The Kodiak bear is a subspecies of brown bear. Kodiak bears are the largest of all brown bears and are arguably tied with polar bears as the world’s largest bears.
To learn more click here.
|