Spring Grizzly Bear and Cub

grizzlies on beach
Click to enlarge

This photo of a “long legged” grizzly bear was taken in the spring.  As the season progresses and the bears bulk up for the fall hibernation their legs seem to get shorter and shorter. Bears may loose 15-30 % of their body weight during hibernation giving the appearance of longer legs.  The cub behind the mother appears, by it’s size, to be last year’s cub. Cubs normally spend two years with their mother and if she does not become pregnant may be with her for a third season. The Glendale River estuary, our grizzly viewing area, provides a good beach at low tide to for “beach food” which is important as berries are relatively scarce and as the salmon have not arrived in the rivers bears will continue to loose weight until well into June.