jmammals and birds or Alaska 7 



liowcver, have a stronger rosemblanco to the grizzly typo than to 

 that of their own species, Wlioever attempts to identify brown 

 iind grizzly bears iii Alaska faces a puzzling task for, according to 

 the authority on the subject, C. Hart Merriam, there are no fewer 

 than 28 species and subspecies in the Territory. 



Beai-s emerge from hibernation late in April or in May and mate 

 hi Jmie of every other year. Li summer, when salmon are spawning, 

 they form the favorite food of brown bears, but at other seasons 

 grasses, roots, and berries are staples. The grizzly bear inhabits 

 the mountams and supj)lements its fare with a diet of ground squirrels, 



DISTRIBUTION 



Figure 5. — Distribution of the black bear. 



marmots, and other animals that it may kill or find dead. In October 

 and November the long hibernation begins, and late in January or 

 early in February, one to four cubs are bom. 



The protection given brown and grizzly bears in Alaska is at pres- 

 ent adequate. In addition to certain areas that are given special 

 management with a view to preservation of the bear population, 

 sanctuaries where no hunting is permitted have been provided, with 

 an aggregate area of 13,416 square miles. 



BLACK BEAR 



Black bears, ranging over at least three-fifths of the land area of 

 Alaska (fig. 5), have shown remarkable ability to adapt themselves to 



