The largest land predator fell victim to the most destructive. There are now only 1,000 grizzly bears left in the lower 48 States, and 30,000 in Alaska. The scientific name has been changed to Ursus arctos, 'the northern bear', but still the grizzly suffers from its reputation. The grizzlies' year starts in April, when the snow retreats from the mountain sides, and they emerge from dens where they have been dozing since October. Most females have cubs with them, either new ones, born underground in January or February, or some from the previous year.
Males spend the winter alone.
When they emerge, the bears are ravenously hungry, having lost as much as half of their body-weight. At first they feed on dried plants and roots. Males sometimes kill young grizzly cubs if they come across them. The female comes into season again very quickly, so that the male may have a chance to mate with her. Mother bears do their best to keep well out of the way of all other bears.