Strength - The Grizzly Bear
Strength
The grizzly is a good example of silent prowess that can intimidate by size and reputation. This huge animal knows how to flex its muscles when necessary and stays fit with its ambles. Even its diet, foraging or fishing is varied and designed to build up its size. Very few are actual bullies. They tend to shy away from incidents that might provoke trouble, but they are not averse to standing up when they sense danger to themselves or their offspring. While the grizzly bear is notable for its size and strength, strength of character and physical prowess are not necessarily embodied simultaneously. True strength lies more in character than in muscle. Like muscle, character built from steady, healthful habits keeps a person prepared for more difficult challenges. Staying focused on what is honest and true to the core, to that which promotes justice and well being, that focus requires internal strength and vision. This type of strength may come in a frail package. When delivered with passion and purpose, this form of strength changes lives, even society, and is far more valuable.
“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
The grizzly is a good example of silent prowess that can intimidate by size and reputation. This huge animal knows how to flex its muscles when necessary and stays fit with its ambles. Even its diet, foraging or fishing is varied and designed to build up its size. Very few are actual bullies. They tend to shy away from incidents that might provoke trouble, but they are not averse to standing up when they sense danger to themselves or their offspring. While the grizzly bear is notable for its size and strength, strength of character and physical prowess are not necessarily embodied simultaneously. True strength lies more in character than in muscle. Like muscle, character built from steady, healthful habits keeps a person prepared for more difficult challenges. Staying focused on what is honest and true to the core, to that which promotes justice and well being, that focus requires internal strength and vision. This type of strength may come in a frail package. When delivered with passion and purpose, this form of strength changes lives, even society, and is far more valuable.
“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
Grizzly bear fishing
The Grizzly Bear
Gigantic, solitary
Frosted by age
Yet still shining
Dominant master
In the mountain realm
The white tips at the ends of their fur are what often give this subspecies of the brown bear its grizzled appearance -hence, the name “grizzly bear”. Their coloration may vary from cream to dark brown. A hump across their back also distinguishes them. These giants of the mountains and forests used to roam the full length of the continent. However, constant encroachment on their habitat has pushed the majority of them up into Canada and Alaska. The lower 48 states probably have about 1,500 or so remaining. Recently, evidence suggests that the grizzlies are returning to the North Cascades in Washington.
The grizzly is a solitary hunter, feeding on both vegetation and game. It is also a scavenger. Groups of them do congregate at times such as salmon season in Alaska and Canada. They are busily eating throughout spring and summer to prepare for their winter hibernation. The average grizzly will weigh 300 to 500 lb., but some, especially males, can grow close to 1,000 lbs. Grizzlies have a very low reproduction rate. Their large range may make mating more difficult. They do not achieve sexual maturity until at least 5 years old, and the females do not mate again for three years after giving birth, usually to two cubs. Females especially must forage for they give birth to cubs during their period of hibernation. Although the cubs only weigh 1 lb. or so at birth, the mother cares for them for up to two years. Mothers defending their cubs account for most of the encounters with humans.
Grizzlies are more likely to stand and fight than black bears as they cannot climb trees. They have claws the size of long fingers and their powerful size have most other animals giving way to them. Other scavengers such as coyotes and badgers may pester them over a kill but never directly confront them. Black bears try to stay out of their territory, but a grizzly may enter into theirs to search for food. However, grizzlies prefer a more open range to dense forest and also seek the higher elevations in the mountains. They instinctively know that they need room!
"The world has room to make a bear feel free;
The universe seems cramped to you and me." »Robert Frost
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/grizzly-bear/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly_bear
http://www.defenders.org/grizzly-bear/basic-facts
Gigantic, solitary
Frosted by age
Yet still shining
Dominant master
In the mountain realm
The white tips at the ends of their fur are what often give this subspecies of the brown bear its grizzled appearance -hence, the name “grizzly bear”. Their coloration may vary from cream to dark brown. A hump across their back also distinguishes them. These giants of the mountains and forests used to roam the full length of the continent. However, constant encroachment on their habitat has pushed the majority of them up into Canada and Alaska. The lower 48 states probably have about 1,500 or so remaining. Recently, evidence suggests that the grizzlies are returning to the North Cascades in Washington.
The grizzly is a solitary hunter, feeding on both vegetation and game. It is also a scavenger. Groups of them do congregate at times such as salmon season in Alaska and Canada. They are busily eating throughout spring and summer to prepare for their winter hibernation. The average grizzly will weigh 300 to 500 lb., but some, especially males, can grow close to 1,000 lbs. Grizzlies have a very low reproduction rate. Their large range may make mating more difficult. They do not achieve sexual maturity until at least 5 years old, and the females do not mate again for three years after giving birth, usually to two cubs. Females especially must forage for they give birth to cubs during their period of hibernation. Although the cubs only weigh 1 lb. or so at birth, the mother cares for them for up to two years. Mothers defending their cubs account for most of the encounters with humans.
Grizzlies are more likely to stand and fight than black bears as they cannot climb trees. They have claws the size of long fingers and their powerful size have most other animals giving way to them. Other scavengers such as coyotes and badgers may pester them over a kill but never directly confront them. Black bears try to stay out of their territory, but a grizzly may enter into theirs to search for food. However, grizzlies prefer a more open range to dense forest and also seek the higher elevations in the mountains. They instinctively know that they need room!
"The world has room to make a bear feel free;
The universe seems cramped to you and me." »Robert Frost
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/grizzly-bear/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly_bear
http://www.defenders.org/grizzly-bear/basic-facts
