Bear Size ~

[brotherbear]

The northern interior grizzly bear Ursus arctos L. by Arthur M. Pearson.

Weights, measurements, and pelage: During the five years of the study, we captured 53 different grizzlies on the study area. The sex ratio was 36bmales: 17 females. During the same period, we also captured 31 different black bears ( 23 males: 8 females ) on the area.

The average weight of 40 mature males was 139 kg ( 306 pounds ) whereas that of 21 females was 95 kg. ( 209 pounds ). The maximum size of each sex shows even greater dimorphism. The largest male weighed 240 kg ( 529 pounds ), nearly twice the weight of the largest female, 125 kg ( 276 pounds ). The large boar class can be recognized from size alone when observed free-roaming. It is not likely that many northern interior grizzlies reach a weight greater than the 240 kg ( 529 pounds ) recorded in the study. weights were also obtained of several mature males killed by hunters throughout the Yukon. The five heaviest weighed 218 ( 481 ), 203 ( 448 ), 192 ( 423 ), 175 ( 386 ), and 164 kg. ( 362 pounds ). All were killed in the late autumn and should therefore have reflected the heaviest annual weight. All were described as very large by both guide and hunter. Mature females probably never weigh more than 140 kg ( 309 pounds ): the largest killed by hunters weighed 125 ( 276 ), 120 ( 265 ), 109 ( 240 ), and 104 kg. ( 229 pounds ).

General colour: The northern interior grizzly shows a broad spectrum of colour, varying from very light yellow to a uniform dark brown, although very few animals were found at either end of the spectrum. The most common colour is a chocolate brown underfur with silver-yellow guard hairs over the neck and shoulders. There is usually a darker dorsal stripe. Reply