



Scientists are collecting hairs from live bears to prevent population declines as a result of decreases in a principal food source: salmon
By Anne Casselman | November 16, 2009 | 1
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]
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. And that bear will go on to feed for 10 hours at a time. Here, before and after photos of grizzlies in Alaska's Brooks Range show just how much weight they pack on in the months leading up to hibernation. [Less] [Link to this slide]
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]
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. [Less] [Link to this slide]
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]
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.
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Here, a black bear is caught on camera checking out what all the stinky fuss is about.
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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]
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. The more salmon that female grizzly bears eat, the higher their odds of having twin cubs. [Less] [Link to this slide]
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1 Comments
Add CommentThis 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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