Grizzly Bear
Ursus arctos (grizzly bears are a subspecies of brown bear)
A big North American brown bear with a shoulder hump and silver-tipped fur, and the symbol on California's state flag.
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About the Grizzly Bear
Grizzly bears live in mountain forests, tundra and high meadows in Alaska, western Canada, Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming. They can weigh up to 800 pounds and stand about 7 feet tall. White-tipped hairs on the back give them a "grizzled" look. A muscular shoulder hump powers digging, and front claws can be 4 inches long. Grizzlies can run up to 35 miles per hour.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Ursus arctos (grizzly bears are a subspecies of brown bear)[1]
- Size
- About 7 feet tall standing up. Front claws up to 4 inches.[1]
- Weight
- Up to 800 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- 15 to 20 years in the wild. About 30 in human care.[1]
- Diet
- Omnivore. Plants, roots, berries and meat.[1]
- Habitat
- Mountain forests, tundra and subalpine areas.[1]
- Where it lives
- Alaska, western Canada, Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, brown bear, assessed 2016).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- subspecies
- A group within a species that lives in a certain area and looks a little different from other groups.
- grizzled
- Streaked or tipped with gray or white.
- omnivore
- An animal that eats both plants and other animals.
- scat
- An animal's droppings.
- tundra
- Cold, treeless land where the ground is frozen much of the year.
See it in person
- San Francisco Zoo & GardensSan Francisco, California · MammalsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. “Grizzly Bear.” https://www.sfzoo.org/grizzly-bear/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Ursus arctos (Brown Bear).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41688/121229971 (accessed 2026-10-02)
Facts last checked 2026-10-02.
