Grizzly Bear Food Habits in the Northern Yukon, Canada
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2003 |
Authors: |
A. Grant MacHutchon Debbie W. Wellwood |
Publication/Journal: |
Ursus |
Keywords: |
canada, diet, food habits, grizzly bear, ursus-arctos, yukon |
Abstract:
We documented seasonal food habits of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in the Firth River Valley, Ivvavik National Park (INP), northern Yukon, Canada, 1993-1995 using: (1) analysis of 176 scats, (2) 222 hours of direct observation, and (3) 99 feeding site investigations. In spring, the primary grizzly bear food plants were alpine hedysarum (Hedysarum alpinum) roots and over-wintered berries such as crowberry (Empetrum nigrum). The main food plants in summer were common horsetail (Equisetum arvense) and bearflower (Boykinia richardsonii). Bears fed primarily on bog blueberries (Vaccinium uliginosum), crowberries, horsetail, and bearflower in fall. When blueberries were not available, grizzly bears dug for alpine hedysarum roots. In addition to eating plants, grizzly bears killed or scavenged caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and hunted Arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) and microtines when available. Well used grizzly bear food plants in INP have similar nutritional quality as food plants from southern Canada. However, the northern growing season is short, and suitable growing sites and diversity of major foods are generally less than in the south, so food plant availability is lower.