In Alaska, where there are estimated to be over 30,000 brown bears, they are classified as a game animal with regionally established regulations. Coloration is usually darkish brown but can vary from very light cream to black.
Brown bears vary greatly in size.
Adult males can weigh from 300 to 850 pounds while females weigh in between 200 and 450 pounds. The largest brown bears are found along the coast of Alaska and British Columbia, and islands such as Kodiak and Admiralty Islands. Here, because of a consistent diet of high protein salmon, males average over 650 pounds and females average about 450 pounds. European brown bears and brown bears from the interior of North America average about two-thirds the size of these large coastal brown bears. Despite this large size, brown bears are extremely agile and fast, reaching speeds of 35 to 40 mph.