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3 kinds of bears

Brown, black and polar species enthrall visitors to the state

By Leon Unruh / Alaska.com

Brown bears are famous for their salmon-fishing antics, their size and their ferocity. On Kodiak Island, browns grow to 1,200 pounds or larger because of the easy supply of salmon and the mild winters.

Although many people fear the hump-shouldered bears -- and rightly so -- careful behavior in bear territory makes bruin viewing safe in such widely scattered places as Denali National Park, McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, Katmai National Park, Hyder's Fish Creek and the Anan Creek and Pack Island bear observatories.

Occasional browns wander out of Chugach State Park and into Anchorage and its suburbs.

The distinction between brown and grizzly bears is geographical. Brown bears that live close to the coast are called brown bears. Browns living inland and in northern lands, such as Denali, are called grizzlies. They share the scientific name Ursus arctos.

Black bears are smaller than browns and also cover a great deal of the state. Their fur color isn't always black; it may even appear brown, cinnamon or (rarely) blue.

Black bears may be seen feeding on salmon at Anan Creek, but they're common enough in Juneau, Seward and parts of Anchorage to be considered pests. A male bear that's ready for hibernation may weigh 240 pounds. The scientific name is Ursus americanus.

Polar bears inhabit the northern coastline, living on pack ice much of the year in search of ringed seals to eat. These long-necked bears often visit coastal towns such as Barrow and Point Hope and move as far south as the Kuskokwim Delta. Mature males reach 1,200 pounds. The scientific name is Ursus maritimus.

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