Habitat: Except in National Park areas, grizzlies are seldom seen, since they frequent only the most isolated places in the mountains; Transition Life Zone and higher.
Description: The largest carnivore in the Southwest. Easily distinguished from the black bear by the prominent hump on the shoulders. Total length 6 to 7 feet. Tail so short as to be unnoticeable. Height at shoulders 3 to 3½ feet. Weight 325 to 850 pounds. Color of the southwestern grizzlies is variable, ranging from yellowish brown to nearly black, but has a characteristic grizzled effect caused by the white-tipped hairs scattered through the fur. This is especially noticeable along the back. The grizzly, though massively built, gives an impression of leanness. The shoulders are higher than the posterior, giving the animal a streamlined appearance. The head is large and round with a square, uptilted muzzle. The legs are extremely powerful, the feet large and with formidable claws, those of the front feet being up to 4 inches long. The young will number from one to three, with two being most common. Grizzlies breed every 2 or 3 years.
Probably no mammal in the United States is more certain soon to become extinct than these great bears. Many factors contribute toward this end, chief among them being the low reproduction rate and the rapid decrease of its range because of an increase in stock raising and agriculture. Ousted from its former haunts, the species is now found chiefly in only the few areas where it is rigidly protected. It seems extremely unlikely that it can long survive this reduction of its once unlimited range. This is the culmination of a program of destruction wrought on the grizzly since penetration of the white man into the West. It but follows the disappearance of other, less well known bears which lived in the Southwest at that time.
When the Mountain Men came into the West in the period from 1800 to 1850 they found a huge, light-colored bear roaming the foothills of the desert country. For want of a better name they called it the “gray bear.” From the accounts of that time it is now assumed that it was a grizzly; at any rate, it was said to have been extremely ferocious, a trait which led to its downfall. In the space of about 70 years this animal was discovered, hunted and exterminated, all without a specimen of any kind being preserved. Today not a trace of this big predator remains. Its fate illustrates the usual result of contact between a dangerous, highly specialized animal and man. The question which arises is, should any group of men ever be allowed such control over a wilderness that they are able to exterminate the fauna and flora to the detriment of succeeding generations? The answer seems obvious if we consider that “we but hold these things in trust.”
grizzly bear
Many species of the grizzly are recognized by taxonomists, but few are alive today. In the United States only New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho still have some of these big animals. In some other western States they have but recently become extinct. California is thought to have lost its last grizzly in 1925. The few survivors are probably all of the species horribilis. Since grizzly country is also black bear country, the layman may become confused in identifying the two species. A few important differences make identification easy.
The first and most conspicuous field mark is the prominent shoulder hump of the grizzly. The male black bear will sometimes with age develop a shoulder hump, but it cannot compare with that of the grizzly. Second, the grizzly has what has been described as a “dish” face; that is, a concavity in the general shape of the front of the face, whereas the black bear develops a definite “Roman” nose. Third, the claws of the grizzly are twice as long as those of the black bear; this is most noticeable in the tracks. If one is close enough to see this characteristic in the field, he probably is too close for safety! Lastly, the attitude of the two species toward each other when they meet on common ground is characteristic. As a rule, the approach of a grizzly to a garbage dump is enough to put all black bears to flight. There is no intermingling of the two species; the grizzly is the master and the black bear will not challenge his authority.
In most of its habits the grizzly resembles the black bear. It is omnivorous to the same degree, but somewhat more predatory. It also goes into hibernation for the winter, and the cubs are born during this inactive period. They receive the same rigorous training as that accorded their black cousins, and like them, are able to climb into the trees and out of harm’s way. As they grow older, this ability leaves them with the growing of the long claws, and adult grizzlies are supposed to be unable to climb. In one respect the grizzly differs from not only the black bear but from most other native mammals. It has never learned to fear man to the same degree that other creatures have.