Day 27
Although grizzlies are of the order Carnivora and have the digestive system of carnivores, they are actually omnivores, since their diet consists of both plants and animals. They have been known to prey on large mammals, when available, such as moose, deer, sheep, elk, bison, caribou and even black bears. Grizzly bears feed on fish such as salmon, trout, and bass and those with access to a more protein-enriched diet in coastal areas potentially grow larger than interior individuals. The grizzly bears that reside in the American Rocky Mountains are not as large as Canadian or Alaskan grizzlies. This is due, in part, to the richness of their diet, which in Yellowstone consists mostly of pine nuts, tubers, grasses, various rodents, army cutworm moths and scavenged carcasses. None of these, however, match the fat content of the salmon available in Alaska and British Columbia.
Salmon can make amazing journeys, sometimes moving hundreds of miles upstream against strong currents and rapids to reproduce. As a result, salmon can “bulk up” becoming monstrous in size and stamina. In some instances, though rare, salmon can mutate, requiring additional sustenance to maintain their massive bodies. These “super salmon”, often have a diet change from insects and smaller aquatic life, to larger mammals, when available, such as moose, deer, sheep, elk, bison, caribou and even grizzly bears.
No comments:
Post a Comment