How Tall Are Grizzly Bears?

The grizzly bear is one of America's most dangerous animals.

The grizzly bear is one of North America's top predators. The grizzly is a sub-species of the brown bear found throughout Europe. The grizzly is second only to the polar bear as the largest land-predator in America.

Description

The grizzly bear is covered in thick brown fur and has a large, heavily muscled body. The bears can weigh up to 800 lbs. and range between 5 to 8 feet tall when standing on their hind legs. The grizzly's powerful jaws and large, clawed paws make them lethal predators.

Range

The grizzly bear is most prominent in the northwest United States, parts of Canada and Alaska. The bear historically ranged further south, even as far as the great plains, but early European settlement pushed them out. According to the National Geographic website, there are only about 1,000 grizzly bears within the continental U.S.

Diet

The grizzly bear is omnivorous, meaning it will eat just about anything. It spends much of its year eating to build up a layer of fat for hibernation. Nuts, fruits and berries make up a large portion of the bear's diet, but it will hunt and scavenge on any meat source it can find. Grizzlies are also adept at catching fat-rich fish like salmon.

References

• National Geographic: Grizzly Bears