Grizzly bears were one of my 'must see' wildlife species on my recent visit to Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. What surprised me--the beauty of their blonde shaggy hair in contrast to the darker, thicker layers of fur underneath.
A species that we most hear about as a fierce predator, the grizzly bear is actually an omnivore, eating a great deal of berries, leaves and roots to supplement its diet and fatten up for the winter months of hibernation. I sampled a couple of their favorites while hiking, blueberries and crow berries.
The tundra was in its prime fall colors, beautiful reds, gold, yellow and orange, a vastly different experience of the autumn season and equally beautiful to the changing of trees. I visited Denali during the first week of September. All I had heard about the brevity of fall in Denali was true. In a matter of six days, the park's landscape changed from vibrant colors to a four-inch blanket of snow. There was no doubt that the fall is a rapidly changing season in this northern climate.
To see this bear having a good scratch visit my blog post:
Good Scratch! Click this link to view all my posts on
Denali National Park and Preserve.
Links and resources:
Denali National Park and Preserve
Grizzly Bear
Bear behavior
Bear Safety