 A Grizzly Bear
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Oct. 27, 2003 — Yellowstone grizzly bears will have their fill of pine nuts this fall. The increase in white bark pine tree production throughout Yellowstone reduces the need for the grizzlies to seek food in more populated areas and risk being shot by farmers protecting cattle.
Humans have killed six grizzlies this year alone. Wildlife officials have also captured nine grizzlies. Of those nine, two bears were killed. The remaining bears were relocated.
This year also saw the numbers of females and cubs decline from a record high in 2002 of 52 to a mere 32 bears.
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The white bark pine tree is a conifer capable of living over 700 years. Yellowstone has the highest concentration of white bark pine trees in the lower 48 states.
The benefit of the white bark pine tree to the recovery efforts of the grizzly in Yellowstone's ecosystem has been largely overlooked. The grizzlies are able to quickly accumulate their fat reserves by eating the nuts from these trees.
"Bears make nearly exclusive fall use of white bark pine seed as food during years in which mean cone production exceeds 20 cones per tree,'' commented biologist Mark Haroldson.
The grizzlies, unable to climb the trees, depend on squirrels to harvest the cones and bury them under the pine tree stands. During autumn the grizzlies seek out the tree stands and with their long claws, unearth the cones buried by squirrels.
The white bark trees typically grow only in high altitude ecosystems where the growing season is short and the climate is typically harsh.
The pine trees, not considered commercially valuable to loggers, were able to grow in large numbers throughout Montana and other areas of Yellowstone.
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Name: Brown Bear, aka Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos)
Primary Classification: Ursidae (Bears) Location: North America, Europe and Asia. Habitat: Large areas of open wilderness, including tundra, mountain forest and alpine meadow. Diet: A variety of seasonal vegetation, including grasses, roots and berries. Also fungi, insects, fish and other mammals. Size: Up to 9.2 ft in length and 1,720 lbs in weight. Description: Thick coat of fur; usually dark brown but can vary from blonde to black. Large, muscular shoulder hump. Concave profile. Powerful limbs. Long claws, non-retractable front claws. Cool Facts: They have the widest distribution of all bear species and vary greatly in size and appearance across their range. Vies with the polar bear for being the world's largest predator. Conservation Status: Not listed by the IUCN. |
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