Grizzly Bear
Ursus arctos horribilis
Grizzly bears inhabit Alaska, parts of the northwestern United States, and western Canada. They can average up to seven hundred pounds, males weighing more than females, and can be anywhere from a light brown to a very deep brown. All grizzly bears are brown bears, but not all brown bears are grizzly bears. This means there are multiple subspecies of brown bears and grizzly bears are just one example. That is why the grizzly bear’s scientific name has the word “horribilis” added at the end, to be able to tell the different species of brown bears. Other subspecies of brown bears include the Kodiak bear, Ursus arctos middendorffi, or the now extinct California grizzly bear, Ursus arctos californicus. These bears are omnivores meaning they can and will eat vegetation like berries, but they can also hunt for food like fish and or small mammals.
Click HERE for a Grizzly Bear Activity Sheet!
Our Current Residents
Ozzy, Male – Born 2007/2008 (estimated and celebrated)
Ozzy was born in Yellowstone National Park. While living in the park, Ozzy frequented campgrounds for easily accessible food. After multiple attempts to get Ozzy to stop frequenting the campgrounds, Yellowstone National Park decided to remove Ozzy from the park, and he was able to come to the zoo in July 2020. Ozzy’s full name is Ozzie Norris, and the “Norris” part comes from the campground in Yellowstone, Norris Campground, that he frequented.
Willie and George have a similar story to Ozzy, as they were being taught how to break into human camping areas to get food by their mother. Their mother was passing down this strategy that was taught to her. To break the chain and keep the public safe, the decision to remove the cubs and their mother from the area was made by Montana’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the cubs were brought to the zoo.
Willie, Male – Born in 2023
Willie may appear browner in his face and body, and smaller than his brother and significantly smaller than Ozzy who is considered an adult and fully grown.
George, Male – Born in 2023
George appears to have more blonde fur on his face and is larger than his brother but is significantly smaller than Ozzy who is considered an adult and fully grown.
You can check in with the bears through our ZooCams located on our website!
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Ursidae
- Genus: Ursus
- Species: Ursus arctos horribilis
Animal Facts
Omnivore: mainly eat plants, fruits, berries, grasses, and forbs, but also fish, rodents, and deer
Population Status (according to IUCN): currently listed as Threatened
Montana Population Status (according to Montana Field Guide): currently listed as Species of Concern
Habitat: forests, riparian areas, and meadows
Activity: crepuscular- mostly active during dusk and dawn
