They are found in the northwestern United States and western Canada. Bears in Yellowstone average 398 pounds and range from 224 to 712 pounds. They are six to seven feet long and stand 3 to 3.5 feet at the shoulder.
Males are usually larger.
The head is massive with small, inconspicuous ears. The backline slopes from the shoulders. Their sense of smell is more acute than sight or hearing. In the Rocky Mountains, long hairs on the shoulders and back are often frosted with white, thus giving a grizzled appearance and the name grizzly or silvertip. They prefer open areas such as tundra, alpine meadows and coastlines but also require dense cover.