Range
Where they live
Holarctic. In the Lower 48, remnant populations persist in the Northern Rockies and Greater Yellowstone.
AlaskaNorthern RockiesWestern CanadaRussiaScandinaviaCarpathians
Ursidae · Ursinae
Grizzly / Brown Bear
Ursus arctos
The most geographically widespread bear on Earth.
Brown bears occupy more of the planet than any other bear. Interior North American form is called grizzly; coastal and island populations grow larger on salmon.
Least Concern globally; some southern populations are highly threatened North AmericaEuropeAsia
800Typical male, lb
400Typical female, lb
6–9 ftStanding height
20–25 years typical.Wild lifespan
Habitat
What they use
- Tundra and taiga
- Mountain meadows
- Coastal rivers
- Alpine
Figure — diet mix
What fills the year
- Roots and grasses
- Berries
- Salmon
- Ungulates
- Insects
Conservation
Least Concern
- Secure in Alaska, Canada, and Russia.
- Isolated southern populations remain at risk.
Pressures
Habitat loss at range edgesHuman conflictIsolation of remnant populations
Map
Range sketch and cameras
Field notes
Worth remembering
- Shoulder hump is digging muscle — a field mark versus black bears.
- Kodiak bears are an island brown-bear subspecies.