Cool Facts about Grizzly Bears

Here's a moment of Bear Zen courtesy of the Summer 2007 issue of Conservation Northwest, a group that is working to bring the grizzly bear back to the North Cascades of the Pacific Northwest (among many other projects).

Keep these in mind next time you hear a news story about grizzlies. See if the media did its homework.

**Adult grizzly bears usually live to the age of 20 to 25 years.

**Females do not reproduce until they are five to six years old, giving birth to an average of two cubs per breeding period.

**Grizzly bear cubs remain with their mother for 2.5 to 3.5 years.

**Grizzly bears have eyesight as good as a person's and a better sense of smell than a dog.

**Grizzlies have an excellent memory, especially regarding food sources.

**Grizzlies are omnivores with a typical diet of less than 10 percent fish or meat. Grizzly bears on coastal areas are the natural exception due to the supply of fish.

**Grizzly bear claws are mainly for digging roots.

**Grizzlies are generally reclusive and are only aggressive towards humans in specific situations, usually when startled or threatened around cubs or food sources.