On the Second Day of Grub, your zoo gift will help to feed…Two Grizzly Bears and Darwin the Cassowary! CLICK HERE to read them all!
Grizzly Bears are known for their love of fish and The Houston Zoo’s Boomer and Bailey are no exception!
The two 32 year old bears weigh in at 490lbs and 518lbs respectively and each consume about 12lbs of fish and meat, 15lbs fruits and vegetables, and 35lbs omnivore biscuits every week. They are offered a variety of produce items including oranges, apples, pears, pineapple, mango, papaya, avocado, lettuce, bananas, and several different types of berries. They also receive treats of honey, yogurt, and peanut butter. Each bear has his own likes, dislikes, and favorite items. This summer, keepers even kept a chart of each bear’s preferences to further tailor their diets to their personal tastes!
Brown bears have the largest range of any bear species and can be found in a variety of habitats. Grizzly bears are a sub species of brown bear and are found in the continental Unites States, Canada and interior Alaska. The name “grizzly” refers to their “grizzled” or grey blond hair in its fur. Brown bears are easily recognizable by the large muscle on their shoulders, which is used to help them dig for rodents and other foods.
Grizzly Bear diets vary depending on what foods are available. They are omnivorous and although the main part of their diet is fruits and plant material, they will occasionally eat deer, elk, and caribou. To maintain such a large body, they must consume a lot of calories, especially before hibernation. They can gain as much as three pounds a day to put on enough fat to make it through the long winters. If you’d like to learn more about grizzly bears and other bear species, visit the Great Bear Foundation or the Center for Wildlife Information!
Written by Carnivore Keepers, Samantha Junker and Courtney Patterson
Help provide tasty and nutritious grub for the Zoo’s grizzly bears and the rest of our animal family this holiday season: Give the Gift of Grub! TXU Energy is matching all donations through December 31, up to $25,000 total, so your gift could have TWICE the impact. Yes, that means you could help feed TWO bears for the price of ONE!
