Orphaned Grizzly Cubs Debut: Big Pics

July 20, 2011 -- Alone no more! Two orphaned grizzly bear cubs made their public debut at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on July 14.

These little bear brothers traveled to the zoo from Montana, where they had been taken in by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. According to the Cleveland Zoo press release, the cubs became orphans after a man, who was looking for deer antlers near Helena, Mont., startled the mother of the cubs. He then shot the adult grizzly bear in self-defense.

Now these grizzly cubs are ready to begin exploring a specially prepped Northern Trek exhibit for young bears.

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The cubs are still without names, but the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is on a fast track to get them one. The Zoo has created an online voting poll called "Dub the Cubs," and they hope the public will help decide what their names should be. Results will be announced on Aug. 1.

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The cubs are estimated to be about 4 months old and they weigh about 40 pounds. A fully-grown male grizzly (Ursus arctos horribilis) can weigh up to 900 pounds and reach from six and a half to nine feet long.

Grizzlies live in the mountain and grassy wilderness areas of North America, Asia and Europe, but their range has shrunk. Today the largest populations remain in Canada, Russia and Alaska. Smaller, scattered populations, like those in Europe, are considered endangered.

When grizzly bears get hungry, it’s not really honey they’re after. Underground stems and roots, berries and nuts, pine nuts, moths, grubs, and rodents (dug out of their burrows) are what make their mouths water. Occasionally a grizzly will take on large animals like horses, moose and young deer. They love salmon or trout, when they’re in season, and they’re good at catching them.

Grizzly bears can live up to 30 years in the wild, and close to 50 years in zoos.

By Yasmine Gazelle Temraz

Source and photo: The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo