Do Grizzlies exist in the Wild in California? (Vineyard, Valley Center: homes, food)

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by blauskies

California golden bear - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Consider the source. No bears weigh-in at 2,200 pounds, not even Kodiaks (same genre as a grizzly) or polar bears which are even larger/heavier.

This is more like it:

Grizzly Bear: Facts, World Record, Live, Attacks, Eat, Endangered

[.highnlite]

Originally Posted by BlackShoe

Have seen this link in the past, and there is a piece of utter nonsense on it. A very large bull bison might weigh 2200 pounds, but to claim a bear that size is absurd. That is four times the weight of the average male grizzly; in fact it is doubrful if a grizzly half the claimed weight ever existed in modern times California. The only grizzlys that ever top 1000 pounds are the coastal grizzlys of Alaska, the so called Alaska brown bears, and even here bears of this size are uncommon. Wild tales from the old days are usually grossly exaggerated, and claims of giant animals from nearly a century and half ago should be discounted.

In a word, acorns.

[Bulldogdad]

It's entirely possible that a California Grizzly from that time period and before could have tipped the scales at 2000lbs+

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

The last one in OC.

That'll teach me to post before rechecking my bear facts. Oski the Golden Bear is still seen once in awhile around Strawberry Canyon.

[blauskies]

2200 lb bear in 1866, surely it could be a fish tale, but who knows, back in those day's a bear could walk around and take a dump in the woods without being bothered by humans, grow big and fat. I would not rule it out for the day.

Even this polar bear is debatable, but sooner or later man too will wipe these off the map. Maybe Alaska can put it on it's flag too?

"According to Outdoor Life and the life book of world records, the largest polar bear ever recorded was 2,210 pounds and 11 feet in height. The polar bear was recorded after being shot in Kotzebue Sound, Alaska in 1960. The carcass was displayed at the Seattle World's Fair in 1962."

[.highnlite]

Regarding Acorns, the reason for the massive size of the California Grizzly even compared to other griz, was due to their acorn diet. They ate massive amounts of acorns.

The Californios, the same folk that nearly defeated Stephen Kearny at the Battle of San Pasquale using the same tools, would hunt griz with lasso and lance. Three vaqueros were required. Three lassos had to be thrown and had to settle around the griz neck. Their horses were backed to keep the griz from running up one of the three ropes and killing the horse and rider. The bear was then lanced to death.

It must have been quite a sight. I think of all the theoretically macho stuff some present day men claim, but, I think going after a griz with lasso and lance, rather beats them.

[blauskies]

Message Board - Ursus arctos californicus Merriam, 1896

[.highnlite]

Originally Posted by blauskies

Message Board - Ursus arctos californicus Merriam, 1896

Beyond cool, what a great site, thank you for it.

[smokingGun]

They should set a couple loose in the Santa Monica Mountains. Plenty of obnoxious tourists and mountain bikers to keep their bellies full.

[RoninAmok]

Originally Posted by BlackShoe

Have seen this link in the past, and there is a piece of utter nonsense on it. A very large bull bison might weigh 2200 pounds, but to claim a bear that size is absurd. That is four times the weight of the average male grizzly; in fact it is doubrful if a grizzly half the claimed weight ever existed in modern times California. The only grizzlys that ever top 1000 pounds are the coastal grizzlys of Alaska, the so called Alaska brown bears, and even here bears of this size are uncommon. Wild tales from the old days are usually grossly exaggerated, and claims of giant animals from nearly a century and half ago should be discounted.

You beat me to it. I can come up with a dozen or so tales with inflated weight and length figures right off the top of my head , some fairly recent.

And most folks have no idea how big a 600 lb bear can appear , they always overestimate the weight , nor as regards the North do they understand the differences between coastal bears and interior bears.

And maybe Ca *should* consider reintroduction , the state needs an apex predator to alleviate the pandemic feral hog problems. And in many areas they *are* a problem.