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Post by brobear on May 3, 2017 6:54:00 GMT -5
library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/brown_bear/brown_bear.html 16 subspecies listed for Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) Other taxonomists say populations in Eastern Europe, Siberia, Alaska, Canada, and the U.S. are probably not genetically distinct enough to merit separate taxonomic designation. (Leonard et al 2000) Brown Bears have traditionally been referred to as Grizzly Bears in the non-coastal western U.S. Origins of the Ursidae family: 15-20 million years ago (mid-Miocene). Brown Bears (includes Grizzly Bears) and Polar Bears diverged from the Black and Sun Bears in the last 6.1 million years ago (Pliocene). An ancestor of Brown and Polar Bears diverged from the European Cave Bears (U. spelaeus) around 1.6 million years ago. (Bon et al 2008). Cave Bears are sister to a clade of Brown and Polar Bears. (Agnarsson et al 2010) Estimates vary widely for timing of Brown Bear and Polar Bears divergence. (Lindqvist et al 2010) 1,320,000 to 200,000 years ago. First Brown Bears lived in China, about 500,000 years ago. (Pasitschniak-Arts 1993) Brown Bears and Cave Bears lived at the same time in Europe beginning about 250,000 years ago.(Pasitschniak-Arts 1993) Brown Bears replaced Cave Bears in Great Britain about 10,000 years ago. Brown Bears first appeared 50-70,000 years ago in eastern Beringia (land bridge between Siberia and Alaska during Pleistocene Ice Ages) (Leonard et al 2000) By about 36,000 years ago three main clades of brown bears in Beringia. From Beringia, Brown Bears spread into Canada, Alaska, and the lower U.S. Appeared in lower U.S. 13,000 years ago, at end of last Ice Age when ice-free corridor available. Polar Bears are closest relatives of Brown Bears. - Polar-Bear/ Grizzly hybrids are fertile (Davis 1950) Most widespread bear in the world. Europe Middle East Asia Western Canada and western U.S. Formerly, distribution much wider. In lower 48 U.S., original range reduced by 98% less than 100 years after arrival of Europeans. (Garshelis 2009) Local and regional extinctions (extirpations) occurred: Northern Mexico (in 1960's) and much of southwestern U.S California (last one shot 1922); still on flag as official state mammal North Africa (in 1500s in Sinai Peninsula of Egypt; survived untill 1800s in Algeria & Morocco) Extinct more than 500 years ago (Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Jordan, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Tunisia, United Kingdom) Extinct during last 500 years (Algeria, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Palestinian Territory Occupied, Portugal, San Marino, Switzerland May be extinct in Syria & Bhutan. Very small populations remain in Nepal & Iraq, French and Andorran Pyrenees Mountains. Ranges of Polar and Grizzly Bears overlap in N. Canada, N. Alaska, and Chukotka, Russia: Occupy a wide variety of habitats, more than any other bear species. (McLellan 2008) Dry asian steppes Arctic shrublands Temperate rain forests Sea level to 5,000 m (16,404 ft) Habitat use by females with young differs from that of males. (Rode et al 2006) Females with young avoid areas where male bears hunt or fish; Females may frequent areas visited by humans rather than encounter male bears; Infanticide by males is the danger they try to avoid Habitat use varies seasonally. Migrate to higher elevations as plant foods become available Shift to coastal areas and streams, when accessible, for salmon and other fish Move to lower elevations for early berry crops, when present; then move higher to follow ripening fruits
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Post by brobear on Oct 2, 2018 15:44:34 GMT -5
www.thebrokebackpacker.com/spotting-bears-slovenia/ SPOTTING BEARS IN SLOVENIA The forest stretched away in front of me… Remote, vast, seemingly endless treetops stretching upwards against the bright blue sky. Kocevje Forest in Southern Slovenia is a special place… This is home to a thriving population of Europe’s greatest predators; Brown bears. In many parts of Europe, these feared and misunderstood creatures have been hunted to the brink of extinction and there is virtually no chance of encountering them in the wild. There have been a few reintroduction attempts over the last ten years and almost all of the countries who have attempted to reintroduce black bears have imported the bears from, yup, you guessed it, the Kocevje forest in Slovenia… Spotting animals in the wild. Encountering animals in the wild is a truly unique experience and something that I have always tried to do whilst backpacking around the world. I’ve never really been a fan of zoos, instead far preferring to camp out in the hills in the hope of having a wildlife encounter of my own… So, how do you find a bear? Spotting bears Ready for some bear spotting? As far as spotting bears in the wild is concerned, there is no better (and safer) place to go than the Kocevje forest. There aren’t many tours in the region and they don’t come cheap but there are between 500 and 700 bears in the area so you have a good chance of coming across one if you head into the wild! Make sure to thoroughly read up on the official information on bears, the national park information and research programs monitoring bears in this area. The last one is a jackpot! On that page you’ll find links to the recent tracking map of around ten people before you who have done the exact same thing! All you need to do then is trace their movements across the forest and then plot the route out across your map… Before heading into the forest, you will need to do some prep… As well as reading up online, I strongly recommend packing the following for your adventure into the woods…
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Post by brobear on Oct 8, 2018 3:04:33 GMT -5
www.wildtransylvania.com/p/brown-bear.html How many bears are there in the Carpathians? The Carpathians are home to about 8,000 brown bears in Slovakia, Poland, the Ukraine and Romania, the second largest population in Europe after Russia. Brown bears are considered of high priority in conservation.
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Post by brobear on Oct 19, 2018 4:34:08 GMT -5
www.visitfinland.com/article/encounter-with-a-bear/ ENCOUNTER WITH A BEAR If you go down to the woods today in most parts of Finland, a big surprise encounter with a bear is very unlikely. But for anyone keen to join an organised trip to see and photograph wild bears, the densely forested borderlands of Eastern Finland are an ideal destination. Finland’s vast forests are home to an estimated 2000 brown bears. Though they may roam anywhere in mainland Finland, bears usually try hard to avoid people. But on the bear-watching trips run between April and September in several localities in Finland’s Wild East sightings can be almost guaranteed (though wild animals can be unpredictable, and big game seekers should plan to spend at least a couple of nights out in the woods). Bears are formidable animals. Big males can weigh up to 300 kilos, and hunt large animals like deer or elk (moose). But there’s also something endearing about these huge furry creatures. Spending the night out in the forest watching a real life teddy bears’ picnic is an unforgettable experience for any nature-lover. 300 kilograms is equal to 661.39 pounds (avoirdupois)
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Post by brobear on Jan 26, 2019 16:57:13 GMT -5
Interesting find Kodiak - There are currently eight different subspecies of brown bear that are recognized by Safari Club International. ( 1 ) Siberian Brown Bear - Ursus arctos collaris. ( 2 ) Eurasian Brown Bear - Ursus arctos arctos. ( 3 ) Amur Brown Bear - Ursus arctos lasiotus. ( 4 ) Kamchatka Brown Bear - Ursus arctos beringianus. ( 5 ) North American Brown Bear - Ursus arctos horribilis ( grizzly ). ( 7 ) Kodiak Brown Bear - Ursus arctos middendorffi. ( 8 ) Alaska Peninsula Brown Bear - Ursus arctos ( gyas or horribilis )? ( 9 ) Sitka Brown Bear - Ursus arctos sitkensis. Each of these subspecies is unique in its own way. They are one of the most interesting, powerful, awe inspiring animals on earth. The more I learn about them the more fascinated I am by them. Note: I would assume that the Himalayan "red Bear", the Tibetan "blue bear", and the Gobi bear are all U.a.arctos? Eurasian Brown Bear - Ursus arctos arctos.
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Post by King Kodiak on Jan 26, 2019 20:17:54 GMT -5
Eurasian brown bear The Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) is one of the most common subspecies of the brown bear, and is found in much of Eurasia. It is also known as the European bear, common brown bear, common bear, and colloquially by many other names. "The genetic diversity of present-day brown bears (Ursus arctos) has been extensively studied over the years and appears to be geographically structured into five main clades based upon analysis of the mtDNA." The Eurasian brown bear has brown fur, which ranges from yellow-brownish to dark brown, red-brown, and almost black in some cases; albinism has also been recorded. The fur is dense to varying degrees and the hair can grow up to 10 cm in length. The head normally is quite round in shape and has relatively small rounded ears, a wide skull and a mouth equipped with 42 teeth, including predatory teeth. It has a powerful bone structure and large paws equipped with claws that can grow up to 10 cm in length. The weight varies depending on habitat and the time of the year. A full-grown male weighs on average between 250 and 300 kilograms (550 and 660 lb), and reaches a maximum weight of 481 kg (1,058 lb) and length of nearly 2.5 m (8.2 ft). Females typically range between 150 and 250 kg (330 and 550 lb). en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_brown_bear
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Post by King Kodiak on Jan 26, 2019 20:20:41 GMT -5
EURASIAN BROWN BEAR (URSUS ARCTOS ARCTOS).... ( the original King of Beasts ).
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Post by King Kodiak on Jan 26, 2019 20:24:56 GMT -5
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Post by King Kodiak on Jan 26, 2019 20:27:34 GMT -5
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Post by brobear on Jan 29, 2019 4:53:08 GMT -5
www.bearphoto.co.uk/news/the-spirit-bear-of-finland?fbclid=IwAR3y3LjLZIvuakxPa29Zna6SpvYgibLQE61f8ibUibp5HbbROtEpnO20rh0 THE SPIRIT BEAR OF FINLAND Early autumn in Finland, and the colours begin to change throughout the magical taiga. The crisp greens of summer slowly vanish, as a colourful autumn ensemble presents itself across the boreal swamps. As the temperature drops day by day, Europe’s largest predator starts to prepare itself for it’s looming winter hibernation. The Kuhmo region of Finland is home to a healthy population of Brown Bears, which travel long distance to forage in reliable feeding areas. In September, a number of individuals began to visit the area where the BearPhoto team were located. Among the darker adult male bears, chestnut coloured female bears and younger cubs, we noticed a new bear appear… As the light had all but faded, and a thin mist hung low in the air, a ghostly white shape shuffled into view. A pristine, delicate looking Brown Bear wandered out of the forest, but it appeared almost entirely white! After returning to the Kuhmo area for the past few years, we had never seen or photographed such an unusual looking adult bear before. Over the next few nights, this extraordinary pale bear, nicknamed ‘Blondie’, continued to visit. She was incredibly timid at first, keeping her distance from the hide. Over the next 7 nights, we watched her slowly gain confidence as she ventured closer to our hides, becoming more familiar with our scent. After observing her behaviour and apprehensive nature, it was thought that Blondie was a young bear that had recently gained independence from her mother. Now foraging for food on her own, this beautiful bear continued to show herself each day throughout the autumn, allowing some incredible views in the lead up to her winter hibernation. It was suggested in a recent article by Finnish tabloid Iltalehti, that pale or white patches are common on younger bears, but a bear as white as this female was extremely unusual. It is likely that ‘Blondie’ will return to the same area, when her hibernation comes to an end in early spring. Hopefully the BearPhoto guides will be lucky enough to see her again as they return to Kuhmo in April. If you would like the chance to photograph this unique female bear as well as many others, click below to request an itinerary for one of our 2019 or 2020 Finland Brown Bear Tours.
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Post by King Kodiak on Jan 29, 2019 5:39:49 GMT -5
Blondie is a very beautiful female bear. Very nice find there brobear.
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Post by King Kodiak on Feb 1, 2019 17:39:29 GMT -5
Marsican brown bear The Marsican brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) (Italian: orso bruno marsicano), also known as the Apennine brown bear, is a critically endangered subspecies of the brown bear, with a range restricted to the Abruzzo National Park, and the surrounding region in Italy. The Marsican Brown Bear is very similar to a regular brown bear with slight differences in its appearance and hibernation techniques. With their existence dwindling, the Italian government has recently begun to stress their conservation. The park has become a sanctuary dedicated to animals such as the Marsican, with hopes of rekindling the large, yet isolative bears’ once thriving existence. In recent years, more conservation groups have tried to help this bear. Debate exists as to whether it should be considered a subspecies or a taxon of its own. Characteristics/ Biology Edit The Marsican Brown Bear lives its life in isolation. With their existence dwindling, the 50 bears that remain in the Abruzzo National Park have characteristics that differ from their sibling subspecies. The Marsican Brown Bear, otherwise known as the Abruzzi Brown Bear, has a relatively calm temperament, with no aggression shown towards humans. In terms of size, the male Marsican Bear is larger than most of the brown bear subspecies, with a weight of around 217 kg (480 pounds), while the female is significantly smaller, at around 140 kg (310 pounds). These bears are known to be omnivorous in nature, mainly eating berries, while occasionally eating small animals such as chickens and other livestock. All of these traits the bear shows can likely be attributed to its existence in isolation. Baby Marsican bears tend to grow up fairly quickly. In a standing position, the Marsican Brown Bear can reach heights of up to 2 meters. Their large size, as well as noticeably different forepaws to their rear are characteristics that help distinguish their presence. The footprints, hair residue, color of feces, and claw marks the bears leave are special to their species. These large mammals have been spotted rolling rocks over in search of insects as well as reaching high into branches looking for berries, honey, etc. Their great sense of smell makes up for their mediocre eyesight when it comes to searching for food. A unique characteristic of the Marsican is that their winter hibernation is not made up of a single consecutive slumber. The bear wakes at times which makes their official resurgence less lethargic. Through the years, the Marsican bear became the symbol of the local Abruzzo National Park and lent its name to pan dell’orso (bear bread) and other traditional regional foods. Thanks to its presence, ecotourism improved in the whole Abruzzi region, though conflicts with shepherds and honey farmers are still reported. In prehistoric times, hundreds of bears would have lived in these mountains. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsican_brown_bear
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Post by King Kodiak on Feb 1, 2019 17:43:46 GMT -5
MARSICAN BROWN BEAR (URSUS ARCTOS MARSICANUS)
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Post by brobear on Feb 1, 2019 18:34:20 GMT -5
Marsican brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) is sometimes considered as a separate subspecies and sometimes listed as Ursus arctos arctos. The experts rarely agree on brown bear subspecies.
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Post by King Kodiak on Feb 1, 2019 18:46:50 GMT -5
This is their habitat, the Abruzzo national park in Italy.
there are only about 50 of these bears left, but only about 12 females that can reproduce.
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Post by brobear on Feb 1, 2019 18:53:59 GMT -5
The largest brown bears in modern Europe - www.flyfishingromania.com/blog/carpathian-brown-bear-first-aid/ The Carpathian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos arctos) With a life expectancy of ca. 30 years, the King of the Carpathian forests can reach a body length of almost 3 m, shoulder-height around 1,5 m and weight up to 600 kg. It can run though with speeds up to 60 km/h. In Europe (except Russia) there is still an estimated population of 14.000 specimens. More than HALF of them live in Romania (around 7000!). Unfortunately because of poaching and illegal/legal hunting, their number is in decline. Bears are solitary animals, having their own territory and their lair in hard accessible and remote areas. Although Media and journalists keep on underlining how dangerous bears are to men, it’s actually the opposite. Through massive logging operations and infrastructure development, the man is actually responsible for restraining the natural habitat of this beautiful creature. It’s not the bears to blame for the recent tragedies reported in Mass-Media. There are also exceptions implying wounded or rabies-infected animals that would react different, but bears are actually afraid of humans. Bears only attack when: they have cubs and they feel threatened they are wounded and feel vulnerable they are close to their pray they’re being chased away repeatedly using stones, sticks, making them angry You might see bears feeding on the roadside or with the rests behind a cabin or your path will intersect with one while backpacking. Don’t walk alone, especially through the forest after dark! DON’T FEED THE WILD BEARS! THAT INCLUDES YOUR BODYPARTS!!! Never leave your food inside your Tent. Hang it at leas 150m away in a tree. Especially in the well known camping areas, the bears know that food is readily available, so please don’t tempt them. If you feel the sudden urge to compete with a 600 kg brown bear regarding it’s favourite food (red/black berries), think again! So before approaching berry-bushes, make some noise, look around. CUBS are sooooo cute! – walk the hell away as fast as you can. Most attacks occur when Mother-bear sees a threat for the family! In case you meet one: Don’t make sudden moves, it might think you want to attack and it will chase you. A bear can run with 60km/h, you don’t stand a chance. Even Usain Bolt wouldn’t. Slowly step sideways, using small steps and bow down, placing SLOWLY your hands above your head. This way, it MIGHT not see you as a threat. do not stop and stare into its eyes. Avoid taking closeup photos, and if you are still too Dumb to do it, NEVER use flash! If you make noise when far enough, they will usually avoid you and run away and/or just mind their own business. Please don’t give another reason for Media to brag with a new bear attack! Stay safe and bear-less! The pictures in this article were taken in Zarnesti, Romania and are credited to George Secareanu (georgesecareanu.ro).
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Post by King Kodiak on Feb 1, 2019 18:54:01 GMT -5
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Post by brobear on Feb 1, 2019 18:55:28 GMT -5
600 kilograms is equal to 1,322.77 pounds (avoirdupois)
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Post by King Kodiak on Feb 2, 2019 8:00:14 GMT -5
Brobear: what is the average weight of the Carpathian brown bear? because if it reaches 600 kg, it might be the largest eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos).
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Post by brobear on Feb 2, 2019 8:13:43 GMT -5
Brobear: what is the average weight of the Carpathian brown bear? because if it reaches 600 kg, it might be the largest eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos). I have always assumed that Carpathian bears average about the same size as the grizzlies of Wyoming and Montana. But, I could be wrong.
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