Page 2 - Black, Brown and Polar Bears
at The St. Louis Zoo

The most fun that Karen Duquette had at the zoo was with the bears. Both the polar bear and the Brown Grizzly bear kept coming to the viewing window and making everyone laugh, "oooh and ah" and have a great time.

THE BLACK BEAR

The American black bear is a medium-sized bear here in North America. It is the continent's smallest and most widely distributed bear species. American black bears eat foods that are both plants and animal in origin, depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but will leave forests in search of food, and are sometimes attracted to human communities due to the immediate availability of food. Despite the name, some subspecies can be brown or even blond in coloration.

The American black bear is widespread in its areas of residence due to a large population estimated to be twice that of all other bear species combined. Along with the brown bear, it is one of only two modern bear species not considered to be globally threatened with extinction.

There was only one black bear to be seen on this date and it was not easy to get a photo of it through the glass. He was lounging lazily in a tree.

The Brown Grizzly Bear

Below: Differences between brown bears and grizzly bears! They are basically the same species, but live in different geographic location, which influences diet, size and behavior. Those that live in coastal areas of Alaska are called brown bears, while typically inland bears that have limited or no access to marine-derived food resources are often smaller and called grizzlies. Both have the same distinctive body shape described below.

Distinctive shoulder hump.
Rump is lower than shoulder hump.
Face profile appears dished in between the eyes and tip of the snout.
Ears are short and round.
Front claws are slightly curved and 2-4 inches longs, depending on how much digging the bear does.
Toes are close together, and form a fairly straight line. A line drawn under the big toe across the top of the pad runs through or below the bottom half of the little toe on grizzly/brown bear tracks. Claw marks are often visible in the tracks.
Brown bears are larger than black bears, standing 3-5 feet at the shoulder when on all fours.

Below: The brown bear was very exciting. Each time he came up to the viewing window, all the children (and Karen Duquette) just loved it. It was so much fun watching him bounce up and down at the window.

Below: The bear would sometimes take s short break from the water and walk around its perimeter, then return to the viewing area.

Below: Lee Duquette's hand on the glass and Karen Duquette's reflection in the glass.

THE POLAR BEAR

The polar bear is a hyper carnivorous bear whose native range lies largely within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the largest bear species still in existence, as well as the largest existing land carnivore.

A boar (adult male) weighs around 770–1,540 pounds, while a sow (adult female) is about half that size. Although it is the sister species of the brown bear, it has evolved to occupy a narrower ecological niche, with many body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice and open water, and for hunting seals, which make up most of its diet. Although most polar bears are born on land, they spend most of their time on the sea ice. Their scientific name means "maritime bear" and derives from this fact. Polar bears hunt their preferred food of seals from the edge of sea ice, often living off fat reserves when no sea ice is present. Because of their dependence on the sea ice, polar bears are classified as marine mammals.

Below: The Polar Bear was also a lot of fun to watch. He would swim in front of the window then come up for air. As shown below, when he came up for air, the photo gives the illusion that his head is small and not attached to his body that is still under water.

Below: Karen Duquette's hand against the window as if she is petting the polar bear.

Continue on to Page 3 at The St. Louis Zoo - photos were put on separate pages to allow for faster internet loading