While exploring Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in southern Alaska, wildlife photographer Brad Josephs had a remarkable encounter. He managed to capture on video what he described as "the longest, most intense bear interaction" he had ever witnessed.
Outside magazine reported that the incident involved two massive male grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) engaged in a display of a head-to-head fight to assert their dominance during mating season.
Two grizzly bears fight at Madrid's zoo on July 7, 2010 on a hot summer day.
Bear Vs. Bear: Fighting for Mating Dominance Caught in the Act
During the intense confrontation captured by wildlife photographer Brad Josephs, the two grizzly bears involved were not evenly matched. One of the males was older and larger, while the other was younger and smaller, as reported by PetaPixel.
Josephs shared the captivating video on his YouTube channel, where it has already garnered over 252,000 views. The footage, lasting nearly nine minutes, showcases the relentless battle between the bears as they vied for dominance during mating season.
The video begins with the bears assuming a threatening posture on all fours, later transitioning to standing on their hind legs and engaging in a wrestling match. There are moments of respite as the bears catch their breath before resuming their fierce encounter.
Towards the end of the video, one of the bears concedes defeat, signaling submission by bowing its head. Josephs interprets this gesture as the bear acknowledging its loss and the victorious bear walking away.
With approximately 30,000 wild grizzly bears in Alaska, Live Science reported that the state has the highest grizzly bear population among all states and provinces in North America, out of a total of 60,000 grizzly bears, as highlighted by PetaPixel.
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Grizzly Bears Mating Season
Grizzly bears typically have a shoulder height of 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) when on all fours. However, they can stand up to nearly 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall on their hind legs. Male grizzly bears can weigh up to 860 pounds (390 kilograms).
According to the North American Bear Center, larger male grizzly bears often intimidate and drive away smaller males during the mating season, which usually spans from May to July. However, when males of similar size and strength encounter each other, it is common for them to engage in fights to establish dominance, as demonstrated in the video.
Male grizzly bears have mating ranges that cover an area of about 10 to 15 miles in diameter. Within each mating range, there are typically 7 to 15 territories of female bears. Some of these territories may include both mothers and daughters of breeding age.
However, some females have cubs and are not available for mating until the following year, and male bears avoid these territories. As the females with yearlings undergo hormonal changes and become ready to mate, they separate from their offspring.
Nevertheless, both male and female grizzly bears increase their movements during the mating season. Females continue to search for food and are generally able to maintain their weight during this time. On the other hand, male bears forage very little during the mating season and experience a weight loss of approximately 20% compared to their weight in the fall.
By the end of the mating season, their weight would further decrease to around 300 lbs. However, within three months, they can regain those 200 lbs and weigh 500 lbs again by the fall.
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