![]() Most Kodiak bears hibernate during winter, but about 30% of males continue foraging for food year round. “And they’ve stayed out longer than usual on the salmon streams because the silver salmon are running real late.” “And it’s an opportunistic thing as well because we have a group of bears here on the road system, especially this year, that are real tolerant of people,” he said. Van Daele said the last time the ice bears were out was four or five years ago. Larry Van Daele was the bear biologist on Kodiak Island for 34 years and most recently served on the Board of Game. “And ice bears are kind of unique and exciting to see.” “Mixed all together, we had bears that we could see that were actively fishing, and they would be covered in ice,” said Fogle Smith. ![]() They’re harder to come by in the winter, but this year was special - thanks to an earlier than usual snowfall and frigid November temperatures. And then she played with it for a little while and then she sauntered down the beach.” And she picked it up, and then she caught it, and then she threw it up in the air again and caught it fully extended. “And she had a beautiful, brilliant red salmon. “This last year I had a beautiful ,sub-adult female, who was very athletic, was an acrobat,” she said. She’s been documenting the island’s bears for over 20 years - and she has some stories. Jennifer Fogle Smith is a wildlife photographer in Kodiak. Fish and Wildlife Service established recovery zones for the bears and set out to improve relationships between humans and bears by educating the public about these animals and establishing programs to reimburse ranchers for livestock bears killed.A Kodiak “ice bear” during a recent snowfall. Endangered Species Act, the population of grizzly bears has grown. Ever since they gained protections under the U.S. Today, grizzlies are considered a conservation success story. In 1975, grizzly bears were listed as threatened under the U.S. ![]() In the 1960s, it was estimated that there were only 600 to 800 remaining in the wild. By the 1920s and 1930s, these bears had been reduced to less than 2 percent of their historical range. Aggressive hunting in the early 20th century also threatened the survival of the grizzly bear. ![]() But those numbers shrank dramatically as westward expansion plunked cities and towns in the middle of the grizzly bear’s habitat. Threats to survivalĪt its peak, the grizzly population numbered more than 50,000. Many grizzlies also still roam the wilds of Canada and Alaska, where hunters pursue them as big game trophies. They’re one of the most iconic residents of Yellowstone National Park. Though European settlement gradually eliminated the bears from much of their original habitat, grizzly populations can still be found in parts of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington State. These animals need a lot of space-their home range can encompass up to 600 square miles-so their ideal habitat is one that is isolated from development and has plenty of food and places to dig their dens. Grizzlies once lived in much of western North America and even roamed the Great Plains. They can be dangerous to humans, particularly if surprised or if humans come between a mother and her cubs. Bears also eat other animals, from rodents to moose.ĭespite their impressive size, grizzlies have been clocked running at 30 miles an hour. Grizzly bears are powerful, top-of-the-food-chain predators, yet much of their diet consists of nuts, berries, fruit, leaves, and roots. Females give birth during this winter rest, often to twins. In this season, dozens of bears may gather to feast on the fish, craving fats that will sustain them through the long winter ahead.īrown bears dig dens for winter hibernation, often holing up in a suitable-looking hillside. Dramatic gatherings of grizzly bears can be seen at prime Alaskan fishing spots when the salmon run upstream for summer spawning. These awe-inspiring giants tend to be solitary animals-with the exception of females and their cubs-but at times they do congregate. Grizzly bears are protected by law in the continental United States-not in Alaska-though there have been some controversial attempts to remove those protections in recent years. Grizzlies are typically brown, though their fur can appear to be white-tipped, or grizzled, lending them their name. The grizzly bear is a North American subspecies of the brown bear. Current Population Trend: Stable What is the grizzly bear?
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