Photo courtesy of The Birmingham Zoo by Jason MacDonald, Paula MacDonald, Mitchell MacPhee, and Paige Nicolle Appearance Grizzly bears are very strong and large animals. Their size and weight are variable depending on the availability of food, and the climatic conditions. The adult bears stand approximately 100 cm tall on all four legs. Their body length is just over 200 cm, and their weight is variable, normally anywhere from 330 to 825 pounds.
Grizzly bears have heavy stout bodies with strong muscular legs.
They have a big head, short tail, small rounded feet and ears, and hind feet with five toes each. The grizzlies have a distinctive muscular shoulder hump, and the claws on the front paws are large, strong and slightly curved. The claws are brown and are used mainly to dig food, ground squirrels and mice. The length of the front claws are often 9 cm long. The grizzlies are covered with heavy shaggy fur.