These first year black bear cubs are not able to scrape the barnacles and muscles off the rocks like their mother so they are waiting for a chance to move off the beach to nurse. But then again this photo was from June 18th which makes them two and a half months younger than the grizzly cubs of yesterdays post and at this age that is a long time.
Grizzly Bears are “Fussy Eaters”
The coastal grizzly bears rely on salmon to put on the pounds required for hibernation. In the height on salmon season a adult Grizzly Bear can consume over 20,000 calories per day. Early in the season the bears are not particular and will eat whatever they can catch or steal. As the season progresses, however some of the better fed bears will become particular and selectively eat the best bits. The roe (salmon eggs) are the most nutrient rich portion of the fish. This bear is extracting the eggs and leaving the rest of the fish for hungrier bears or birds to finish up at a later time.
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