The Grizzlies of Mount McKinley

270 Pages·1985·45.145 MB·English

by  Adolph Murie

THE GRIZZLIES
OF
MOUNT McKINLEY
Adolph Murie on MuldrowGlacier, 1939.
T h e
Grizzlies
of
MOUNT
MCKINLEY
Adolph M urie
Biologist, FishandWildlifeService
University of Washington Press
Seattle and London
TheGrizzliesofMountMcKinleywasoriginallypublishedin1981asScientific
MonographSeriesNo. 14bytheNationalParkServiceoftheU.S.Depart
mentofthe Interior.
All rights reserved. No.part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includ
ing photocopy, recording, orany information storageor retrieval system,
withoutpermissioninwritingfrom thepublisher.
LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData
Murie, Adolph, 1899-1974.
ThegrizzliesofMountMcKinley.
(Scientificmonographseries; no. 14)
Supt. ofDocs. no.: I 29.80:14
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Grizzly bear-Behavior. 2. Mammals
Behavior. 3. Mammals-Alaska-MountMcKinley
National Park. 4. Mount McKinleyNationalPark.
1. Title. II. Series: UnitedStates. National
ParkService. Scientificmonographseries; no. 14.
QL737.C27M87 599.74'446 84-52203
ISBN 0-295-96204-6
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
Contents
PREFACE xi
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xiii
SUMMARY xv
Chapter1
INTRODUCTION
Chapter2
STUDY BACKGROUND 4
Classificationand Characteristics 4
Habitat 11
Numbersand Density 14
Age DeterminationofCubs 17
SomeFamilyStatistics 20
TracksandTrails 23
Chapter3
RANGE AND MOVEMENT 33
Home Range 33
JointOccupationofRange 61
MovementsofTransported Bears 76
Chapter4
THE FAMILY 79
Mating 79
Nursing 92
Aspects ofFamilyLife 103
RetirementtoCliffs III
Mother-CubSeparation 117
CubCompanionshipAfterSeparationFrom Mother 126
Chapter5
SUBSISTENCE 133
Hibernation 133
Food Habits 135
Carrionand Caching 159
v
Chapter6
GRIZZLIES AND UNGULATES 171
Grizzly-CaribouRelationships 171
Grizzly-MooseRelationships 186
Griz£ly-DallSheep Relationships 198
Chapter7
GRIZZLIES AND RODENTS 209
Grizzly-GroundSquirrelRelationships 209
Grizzly-Marmot Relationships 216
Grizzly-MouseRelationships 216
Grizzly-BeaverRelationships 218
Grizzly-Porcupine Relationships 218
Chapter8
GRIZZLIES ANDCARNIVORES 223
Grizzly-WolfRelationships 223
Grizzly-Wolverine Relationships 226
Grizzly-Fox Relationships 227
Chapter9
GRIZZLIES AND BIRDS/INSECTS 231
Grizzly-Golden Eagle Relationships 231
Grizzly-MagpieRelationships 232
Grizzly-RavenRelationships 234
Grizzly-InsectRelationships 234
Chapter 10
GRIZZLIES AND MAN 235
Chapter II
KEEPING GRIZZLIES WILD 239
REFERENCES 243
INDEX 245
vi
Figures
Frontispiece: Adolph Murie on Muldrow Glacier, 1939.
Denali (Mt. McKinley) stands above the grizzly's domain. XVlll
2 The shoulder hump and dished facial profile easily distin-
guishgrizzliesfrom black bearsinthefield. 5
3,4 Forefeetand hindfeet ofgrizzliesareclearlydistinguishable. 6,7
5 Here a glacial stream has shifted its channel and is washing
awayan oldvegetated river bar. 12
6 Here the glacial stream is washing away a wooded flat. 13
7 A female grizzly with two spring cubs on Sable Pass. 16
8 Motherwithspringcub. 18
9 Some spring cubs havedistinctwhite patchesonthesides of
the neck. 18
10 Motherwithyearlinginspringof1964. 19
11 Mother with 2-year-old cubs feeding on first green grass
blades. 20
12 Beartraildescendingsteepsnow slope. 25
13 A beartree, used for rubbing. 29
14 Mother grizzly and yearling crossing a late spring snow
patch. 33
15 Map of the study area, Mt. McKinley National Park. 42
16 Approximate home ranges for two females recognized for
periods of4 years. 44
17 The dark brown female and her cub received a scare from
photographers. 47
18 Approximate observed home range ofa blond female with
one sprIng cub In 1964 seen the following 3 years. 48
vii
19 A female and her spring cub watch intently as a lone bear
passesnearby. 72
20 The crippled male patiently following his female mate. 86
21 A mother nursing her spring cub, in the typical nursing
postureforgrizzlies. 94
22,23 This female used a telephone pole for backscratching.
Minuteslaterhertinyspringcubrubbeditsbackonthepole. 106
24 During the breeding season females with cubs often spend
the nightincliffs. 112
25 Mother with spring cub, followed by a 3-year-old cub. 124
26 The old cub watches mother, not daring to approach. 125
27 Theoldercub,chasedbythefemale, hadapproachedcloseto
herand ishere leavingina hurry. 125
28 Twins, about 4 years old, still companionableafter leaving
theirmother. 128
29 A lone bearseeking food afteranearlySeptembersnowfall. 132
30 Dens used by bears for overwintering appear to be located
throughoutthesummerrange in the park. 134
31 Grizzliesexpose succulent roots by looseningchunksofsod
with theirforepaws. 138
32 Here grizzlies had been digging for the roots of peavine. 139
33 Winter deposits of overflow ice give some bars a respite
from bear-digging, since they do not melt until summer. 140
34 Thefleshyrootsofpeavineareaprincipalfood ofbearsinthe
spring. 148
35 The juicy-stemmed Arctagrostis is the grass species eaten
most frequently by grizzlies. 149
36 Boykinia, ashowysaxifrage,isa majorfood iteminfavored
grazing areas on Sable Pass. 150
37 OneoftheattractionsforbearsonSablePassisthesourdock
(Rumex arcticus). 151
38 Some bears spend hours grazing on O:xytropis viscida. 152
39 Blueberries are a major bear food in late summer. 153
viii
40,41 Additional information on food habits can be gained by
examiningbearscats. 156,157
42 This carcass ofa caribou bull was mostly covered with sod
and vegetation bya grizzly. 166
43 Robust caribou such as these almost never supplement the
grizzlydiet. 172
44 Migratingcaribou. 172
45 Theflats southofPolychromePasswherebearsseekcaribou
calves insomeyears. 180
46 Caribou seekingsnowtominimizetheattack ofbotfliesand
noseflies. 187
47 Mothermoosefollowed bya veryyoungcalf. 187
48 An old bull moose at the beginning of the rut. 194
49 Acow moose mayputa beartoflight,especiallyifthebearis
nota largeadult. 196
50 DaBsheep, not muchworried about bears. 199
51 A band of Dall sheep, in migration across a valley. 201
52 Notlongafterthis picturewas takena bearcapturedastrag-
glinglamb. 204
53 Bearsoftenareseenexcavatinggroundsquirrels. 210
54 Ayoungbearlookingfora ground squirrel. 212
55 Hoary marmots seldomarecapturedorexcavatedfromtheir
burrows. 217
56 As a rule the bears seem to keep at a safe distance from
porcupInes. 219
57 Bears often benefit from animals killed by wolves. 222
58 I have observed numerous fox dens located in choice bear
country but rarely have seen any disturbance of them by
bears. 228
59 Both golden eagles and grizzlies hunt ground squirrels and
areattracted tocarrion. 233
60 Photographers sometimes experience unsettling moments. 236
61 NapierShelton standing besidea sprucetreewherea grizzly
attacked him. 238
62 "It would be fitting, I think, if among the last manmade
tracks on earth could be found the huge footprints of the
great brown bear."(EarlFleming, 1958). 242
ix