Grizzly Bear
Fortunately the Yellowstone grizzly is inclined to mind his own business and is not addicted to the panhandling or clowning traits of the black bear. He does sometimes come into the camps and cabin areas in search of food but generally is seen only rarely by visitors. In the woods, if given a reasonable chance, he will move away from your vicinity. However, a grizzly surprised at close range will frequently charge the person, surprising him. In this event a tree is the safest place to attain as the adult grizzly is unable to climb trees.
The grizzly is a large animal but in spite of this is able to travel with tremendous speed and can outrun a horse for a short distance. He is powerful enough to kill elk and other large animals and he does doubtless occasionally attack large mammals if the opportunity seems favorable. He often takes sick or feeble animals or young ones. However, the grizzly is usually content to make a diet of grass, roots, berries, fruits, mushrooms, ants, mice, rats, gophers and other small animals and any carrion he happens to find. In areas outside of the park occasional individuals have been known to kill cattle, sheep and hogs.
The grizzly hibernates like the black bear, although frequently at higher elevations, where the period is longer due to weather conditions.
Grizzly cubs are born in January and are blind, naked and helpless, and weigh possibly as much as a pound at birth. One or two, and occasionally three or four, are born in each litter. Litters usually occur every second or third year. A grizzly cub can climb trees readily until he is about a year old, after that his claws become too long and blunt and he loses his inclination for climbing.
General description: A large heavily built bear with a dished face that gives a concave profile, a broad head and a hump at the shoulders. Tail short, claws long and slightly curved with whitish or yellowish streaks. Color subject to seasonal and individual variation, yellowish brown to blackish with a sprinkling of whitish or silvery-tipped hairs. In winter the coat appears grayer with the silver hairs more pronounced, hence the name Silvertip. Underparts are colored the same except for lacking the grizzling. Sexes colored alike but the females are somewhat smaller in size than males. Males are six to eight feet in length, tail two inches, with height at shoulder from three to nearly four feet. The weight varies from 350 to 900 pounds with some individuals running to nearly 1200 pounds.
Terms: Male—boar; female—sow; young—cubs.
Where found: Throughout the park but most common near the Canyon, Fishing Bridge and Old Faithful. Usually stirring around most frequently in the evening or during the night.
COUGAR
Felis concolor
Mountain Lion, Panther, Puma or Painter are other names applied to this, the largest of our North American unspotted cats.