Brown Bear
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Photo Credit: Doug Kjos
Found in Wild: Brown bears are represented by many subspecies across the world, including Europe, northern and central Asia to North America. There are three subspecies of brown bear in North America: Alaskan Brown bear, Grizzly bear and the Kodiak bear. The Alaskan Brown bear, or coastal bears are found within 30 km of the coast of Alaska. The grizzly bears are those bears found more than 30 km from the coast of Alaska and through Canada into the lower 48 states. Kodiak bears are isolated to the Kodiak archipelago, a small group of islands including Kodiak Island off Alaska.
Size and Description:
- Standing height: Average, 6 feet.
- Weight: Varies from 200-650 pounds, according to location. Kodiak are the largest, followed by the Alaskan brown then Grizzly.
Life Span: About 20-25 years
Gestation Period: 180-250 days. Usually 2 young.
Diet (zoo): meat, fish, dog chow, bread, vegetables and fruit
Diet (wild): Bears are omnivorous and will eat whatever is available. Diet includes fruits, berries, nuts, roots, fish, rodents and occasionally, other mammals.
Did you know?
- Technically, all brown bears including Kodiak, Grizzly, and Alaskan Brown are classified as the same species; the main difference occurs in where each lives.
Interesting Facts:
- Our bears do slow down in the winter but do not sleep.
No bears are true hibernators and only black bears sleep for extended periods of time. Black bears use adaptive hypothermia, called torpar, during winter months, a state in which metabolism and heart rate slow down. - Cubs are born in the winter. At birth, they weigh about 3-4 ounces.
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Hours
May: 10am - 6pm
June-August: 10am - 8pm
September: 10am - 6pm The Zoo will re-open Saturday, April 26, 2008
Admission
$6.00, ages 13 & up
$3.00, ages 4-12
Free, ages 3 & under
Wagons & Strollers
$2.14 Wagon $1.07 Stroller
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