My Experience of Brown Bears
 Forthcoming from DeeAnn Pederson
The Nature of Brown Bears
By Bradford Glass
North America hosts three species of bears: black (Ursus americanus), brown (Ursus arctos), and polar bears (Ursus maritimus). It’s unfortunate in a way to have them designated by colors, for black bears come in all shades of brown, as well as black, and brown bears come in all shades of brown as well, from blonde to dark brown. Only the polar bear seems to have adopted a consistent coloration, and he is a descendant of the brown bear. Black bears are even now known to come in almost pure white, the "Spirit Bear" of British Columbia, as well as a slate blue, the "Glacier Bear" of southeast Alaska.
Although all brown bears are the same species (Ursus arctos), there are some differences, if only in how we refer to them. What we term grizzly bears are simply inland brown bears, the basic brown bear being a coastal resident. Coastal brown bears can weigh 2 to 3 times more than their inland brothers, the grizzly. They can reach weights of 1000 pounds, with some recorded weights of 1200 to 1500 pounds, attained by feasting on the abundant supply of salmon during late summer and fall. Even at that size, they can still bolt into full speed charges of 35 m.p.h. without warning.
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"Master of The Meadow"
"The Trophy"
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In June and into July, until the salmon begin to run and the berries begin to ripen, food is scarce. During that time, they may take advantage of low tides to forage in the mud flats for clams. After a refreshing afternoon nap in their shaded underbrush bear beds, they’d retreat in the evenings to the lush green meadows.
The bears of Alaska generally have one or two cubs, but three is not unusual. With a sibling as a playmate, brown bear cubs often spend their day participating in favorite playtime activities: romping, splashing, chasing, swatting and wrestling, with neither getting the upper paw. All of this play helps bears to develop the skills needed to survive once they become adults. But for now, it’s play. Even a mother’s attempt to teach cubs to dig for clams usually results in play, the more mischievous of the cubs making it into a game, with only a periodic intermission to snatch a clam or two away from mom.
Serious hunters once the salmon season arrives, brown bears will meander through the rivers and streams, snatching large salmon from the waters with a quick snap of their ample jaws. It’s a breathtaking sight to witness the spectacle of bears as hunters in Alaska’s wilderness. Hallo Bay, my favorite place for brown bears, brings the true meaning of "wild" to mind, emotion and spirit.
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