|
Lewis and Clark
Expedition for kids: Facts about the Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear is a powerful brownish-yellow bear that
inhabits the uplands of western North America.
-
The animals brown
fur has white or gray hair tips on the back which gives
the animal a grizzled appearance, which is why the Grizzly
Bear was given this name.
-
The Grizzly bear
can be distinguished from the brown bear due to its
long claws, concave-shaped face and high-humped shoulders.
-
The male Grizzly
bear is larger than the female weighing 230 -
450 kg (500 - 1000 lb). Female grizzlies weigh 150 -
350 kilograms (330 - 770 pounds).
-
The Grizzly Bear
is an omnivore, which means it eats both vegetables
and meat. 90% of its diet is vegetarian.
-
The terrifying animal
can run at 30 miles (48 kilometers) an hour
-
The claws of the
front feet can reach nearly 4 in (10 cm) long
-
The height of the
Grizzly Bear is about 5.9 - 7 ft (180–213 cm)
when standing on its hind legs
Grizzly Bear:
A Close Encounter for Meriwether Lewis
The journals of Lewis and Clark, and those written by members
of the Corps of Discovery, record at least forty terrifying
encounters with the ferocious Grizzly Bear on the Lewis
and Clark expedition. In one of many meetings with grizzly
bears, Meriwether Lewis escaped by running into a river.
He had forgotten to reload his rifle and had only his spontoon,
a lance or pike-like device, to defend himself.
Grizzly Bear:
A Close Encounter for William Clark
On Sunday, May 5, 1805 William Clark recorded his close
encounter with a Grizzly Bear. He was with another member
of the expition called George Drewyer when they were confronted
by the massive Grizzly. They managed to kill the terrible
bear but with great difficulty. The men shot ten balls into
him before he died. Clark recorded that the animal was the
largest of the carnivorous kind he had ever seen and
believed his weight was at least 500 pounds.
Accounts of the Animals
|
