Grizzly Bear - Rachel Kenison
Grizzly Bear - By: Rachel Kenison
Description
The grizzly bear has a huge range of habitat tolerance. Relatively undisturbed mountain ranges usually provide a range of vegetation for the grizzlies to eat. Grizzlies are generally larger than black bears, have longer and curved claws and humped shoulders. Male grizzlies weigh 400-600 pounds on average and female grizzlies weigh 250-350 pounds on average. While on all fours, adults stand 3.5-4.5 feet tall at the hump, while up to 8 feet tall on their hind legs. Grizzly bears live quite long lives at around 25-30 years old, however, some individuals have been known to live over 40 years. Adult grizzlies are typically individualistic unless caring for or breeding their young. These bears have their own personal space bubbles which differ depending on the bear itself, and if another bear or human enters their bubble, they might attack. While a female is raising her cubs, her bubble is going to be much bigger than a male’s. Mating seems to happen from late May through mid-July. The age at first reproduction averages around 5.5 years old. At the age of 7.5, the female grizzly would only be adding her second litter, therefore in the first 10 years of her life, one female grizzly only adds two litters to the population. It takes anywhere from 229 to 266 days for conception of the cubs to reach completion.
Geographic and population changes
There are only five known grizzly bear populations in the continental United States. The amount of bears per area depends on how big that population is. The amount of bears used to range anywhere from one bear per 6 miles^2 in southeastern British Columbia (McLellan 1989) to one bear per 34 miles^2 in Yellowstone National Park (Craighead 1974). However now there is no estimate as to how many grizzlies range in the continental United States.
Listing type
On July 28, 1975, the grizzly bear was listed as threatened.
Main threats
Humans have an impact on grizzlies by taking parts of their habitats which leads to lower numbers. Such as degradation of building roads, cutting down timber and oil and gas exploration. There are six classifications for human faulted deaths, including, direct human and bear confrontations, attraction of grizzlies to improperly stored food, careless disposal of dead livestock, protection of livestock, degradation of habitats and hunting (legal and illegal).
Recovery plan
Each specific population will be listed as threatened until they reach their recovery criteria. Once all populations are delisted in the lower forty-eight states, then the species itself can be delisted. Recovery criteria will be reached once certain numbers of females with a certain number of cubs per year is reached, distribution of families and a limit on human faulted deaths. There are five specific objectives for the recovery of the grizzly bears. These five steps include: 1. Identify each population’s goals that represent the species recovery in a measureable way for the five populations. 2. Start a population monitor to watch the population levels. 3. Identify what is limiting the population and the habitat. 4. Identify how to get rid of those limiting factors. And 5. Establish the recovered populations in habitats that are available to sustain the grizzlies. There are a few requirements for recovery, access to the population’s demographic factors for that ecosystem and the development of a complete strategy to protect grizzlies after they are delisted. Many bear researchers agree that the best way to maintain the species’ population is to monitor their habitats to keep them adequate. 
What can you do
Minimize your interactions with any grizzly bears. If you are camping or hiking, make sure to keep your stuff neat and organized including your garbage. Also, make continuous noise such as, singing, humming or talking to warn the grizzlies to keep their distance. You can do research about where you’re going hiking or camping to see if a possible grizzly population could be around you. You can follow some of the links below and donate to the restoration of the grizzly bear population, or you could sign the petition to stop poaching.
Other resources
Through the following link, http://www.defenders.org/help-us-protect-grizzly-bears, you can donate to help to restore the grizzly bear.
Following this link, https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/bearesa.htm, you can read all about how the grizzly bear population is affected in just Yellowstone National Park itself.
This link, https://www.change.org/p/protect-grizzly-bears-from-trophy-hunting, is a way for you to get involved as well by signing a petition to try and stop grizzly bear poaching, along with many other animals.
Works Cited
Pictures used
Great Post!! I think the pictures you used really illustrate each point they're associated with. Aesthetically, your blog is really appealing. Its' text mixed with pictures makes it easy and fun to read. I also had no idea grizzly bears live that long! I definitely think everyone should sign that petition also. Just one quick and easy step that could help an entire species.
ReplyDeleteYou used a lot of great photos, they are both informative and pleasing to the eye. I never knew about the six classifications for human faulted deaths. I knew of the ones like direct human and bear confrontations, and attraction of grizzlies to improperly stored food. But I did not think of careless disposal of dead livestock and protection of livestock to have an affect on bears. Lastly, I think you gave good information on what we can do to help, the hiking tip to continually make noise is one that I will make sure to use in the future!
ReplyDeleteWhoa I knew grizzlies were bigger than black bears but they are huge! Awesome photos, and the information about how there are only five distinct populations is pretty crazy. People look at grizzlies in such a negative light, but they are such beautiful and massive creatures. It'd be so sad if they were gone forever, even if they were just gone from the U.S. would be heartbreaking. The petition signing is such a quick and easy way to help.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIts so sad that the grizzly bear is our state's animal and they're numbers have diminished so much. I have always wanted to see one because they are such magnificent creatures but with only five populations in the entire United States, it seems like it would be pretty rare. I really hope that this animal will recover because I think they are an important symbol of the US.
ReplyDelete-Michelle Henderson