Observations on Feeding Habits and Behavior of Grizzly Bears

Abstract

While engaged in a spawning-ground survey of salmon on the Nakina River, British Columbia, an excellent opportunity was afforded to study the feeding habits and behavior of several grizzly bears. The major food items and the manner in which they were obtained are discussed. Other behavior patterns such as territorialism and social hier- archy are likewise considered. and behavior of bears (Ursus sp.l) on a 2-mile stretch of the Na- kina River, a clear-water tributary of the Taku River. The Nakina is located in its entirety in British Columbia, while the Taku has its mouth about 30 miles south of Juneau, Alaska (Kerr, 1948). The Nakina is the major producer of an important stock of king salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), and the observations on bears were made in conjunction with a survey of salmon in this 2-mile stretch of water. During the first two weeks of the study, abundant bear sign was evident, although only 1 or 2 bears were actually seen; these were sighted at a considerable distance from the camp. Then within 2 or 3 days, three bears took up residence in the vicinity of the camp and became quite imperturbable with respect to the survey party. These three were often encountered at extremely close range and fortunately paid little heed to the biologists. Besides these permanent residents, 9 other bears were observed in the survey area, a few of these being seen fairly regularly while others were observed only once or twice. The individual bears were readily distinguished by obvious physical characters (size, color, etc.) as well as by behavioral peculiarities. The bears ranged in color from. a light silvery-yellow through light and dark brown to a dark bluish-brown color. None of the bears was