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Grizzly Details: Salmon Collapse Could Be Bad News for Bears [Slide Show]

Scientists are collecting hairs from live bears to prevent population declines as a result of decreases in a principal food source: salmon

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GRIZZLY GLUTTONY
thumb: GRIZZLY GLUTTONY

GRIZZLY GLUTTONY

Grizzly bears have perfected the art of hyperphagia, another word for overeating. "I've seen one bear catch and eat most of 23 salmon in an hour and 29 minutes," says Barrie Gilbert, a retired wildlife biologist from Utah State University in Logan....[More]

WHERE'S THE FAT?
thumb: WHERE'S THE FAT?

WHERE'S THE FAT?

Grizzlies aren't as much interested in the protein in salmon as in the fat, which fuels their high-energy winter hibernation. "If you don't have enough fat going into a den, you will starve to death in the den or come out early and see if you can find something to eat in winter," Gilbert says....[More]

CATCH AND SNIFF
thumb: CATCH AND SNIFF

CATCH AND SNIFF

A cougar is caught by an infrared camera set up at one of
the hair-snagging stations while investigating the stink sauce. The barbed wire to collect the bear's hair is visible in the foreground....[More]

HAIR OF THE BEAR
thumb: HAIR OF THE BEAR
HAIR OF THE BEAR

Here, a black bear is caught on camera checking out what all the stinky fuss is about.

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FAT CHANCE
thumb: FAT CHANCE

FAT CHANCE

This large female grizzly was photographed outside of the town of Bella Bella, which is situated along British Columbia's central coast. Female grizzlies won't implant their fertilized eggs until they have accumulated sufficient body fat before going into hibernation....[More]

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  1. 1. devo389 04:29 PM 12/23/09

    This is so very true and very realistic. Many people seen on the news or read in the newspaper are complaining about the lake of salmon for consumption by humans. Very few individuals ever think about the rest of the food chain. Very interesting and factual article, I hope to see more analysis and hopefully a full conclusion to the research.

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