Hunting, North America
Difference Between Brown and Grizzly Bear
More than 32,000 grizzly and brown bears call Alaska home! Geographical location and diet determines the difference between brown and Grizzly bear in Alaska. Even though there are technically two subspecies in North America (the grizzly and the Kodiak), all brown bears in Alaska are genetically identical. The difference between coastal and grizzly Bears is geographical and diet.
- In 2007, approximately 1,900 brown bears and grizzly bears were harvested in Alaska.
- Alaska residents took 700, and roughly 1,200 (or 67%) were taken by nonresidents.
- Alaska brown bear hunting seasons are held in both spring and fall in some areas but only in fall in other areas.
- It is illegal to kill cubs and females with offspring.
- Nonresident brown bear hunters are required to have a guide, or be accompanied by an Alaska resident who is a relative.
Difference Between Brown and Grizzly Bear in Alaska
Brown Bears
- Coastal Brown Bears: As their name suggests, Alaskan coastal brown bears live along the coast where the living is easier and the climate is better. They have a greater amount of animal protein, mainly in the form of fish in their diet and hence get larger. Use enough gun, because they are huge, powerful animals.
- Kodiak Brown Bears: Since the last ice age, about 12,000 years ago, Kodiak bears have been isolated from the rest of Alaska’s brown bear population on Kodiak, Afognak and Shauk islands in southwestern Alaska. Kodiak bears have the smallest gene pool of all of the world’s brown bears and a larger bone structure. They have the same basic diet as coastal brown bears and grizzly bears, but these islands have so many salmon that they are larger and these islands can support 40% more bears. Due to the higher population density, Kodiak bears have a more diverse social structure than other bears.
Grizzly Bears
Grizzly bears are found in inland Alaska, British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington and Montana. Their diet consists mainly of berries, roots, bulbs, rodents, insects and whitebark pine nuts. Grizzlies supplement their diet with moose, elk, mountain goats and sheep. Basically, grizzly bears have to work harder to make a living. Because of that, don’t get as large as their coastal cousins.
BROWN & GRIZZLY BEAR HUNTING GUIDES & OUTFITTERS
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Kayla Redmon
Where? If local management allows, why is it any different than say black bear hunting in it’s lawful regions?
It’s all politics