A grizzly bear is a large, powerful brown bear that lives in the mountains and forests of western North America. Grizzlies can weigh up to 800 pounds and stand over seven feet tall when they rear up on their hind legs. They get their name from the grizzled, or grayish-tipped, fur on their shoulders and back, which gives them a frosted appearance.

These bears are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They feast on berries, roots, fish (especially salmon), and occasionally hunt larger animals like elk or moose. Grizzlies have a distinctive shoulder hump made of muscle that gives them tremendous digging power and helps them flip over huge rocks or tear apart logs while searching for food.

Grizzlies once roamed across much of western North America, but today most live in Alaska, western Canada, and a few protected areas like Yellowstone National Park. They need enormous territories to find enough food: a single grizzly might roam across hundreds of square miles.

These bears hibernate during winter, sleeping in dens for up to seven months without eating. Mother grizzlies give birth to tiny cubs during hibernation, and the cubs emerge in spring weighing only about 10-20 pounds, though they'll eventually grow into some of North America's most formidable animals.