Grizzlies

Barren-ground grizzly bears (Ursos arctos) are the second-largest carnivore in Wapusk. Since the mid-1990s, grizzly bear sightings have become increasingly common in the park! They are thought to be from populations in northwest Nunavut that are moving southeast, but many questions remain regarding their ecology and population status in northern Manitoba. We know that they are solitary animals, and males usually roam farther than females.

Barren-ground grizzlies are omnivores. They eat caribou, small mammals, birds, ringed seals, beached whales, spawning fish, horsetail, arctic cotton grass and various berries. They have large heads with a dished face, long snouts, and small, round ears. The claws on their front feet are long and sharp, and they have a noticeable hump on their shoulders. Barren-ground grizzlies are smaller than grizzly bears in populations found to the south and west.

In late October or November, grizzlies enter their dens and fall into a deep sleep until spring, though noise or disturbances may briefly wake them.

Grizzly bear breeding season is usually from late spring to early summer. On average, female grizzlies give birth to two cubs, but one to four are possible. Although the grizzly bear is designated as Special Concern under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, there is no evidence to date of an established breeding population in Manitoba. The grizzly bear’s status under Manitoba’s Species and Ecosystems at Risk Act remains Extirpated. Extirpated means that a species is no longer found in the province, but still survives elsewhere in the country.

Grizzly bears have been consistently observed in Wapusk since 2008. While little is still known about the grizzlies of Wapusk, individuals have been captured on the trail cameras at Broad River, Owl River, and Nester One.

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