Scientists agree that the North American and European Brown Bears are of the same species, but that the Kodiak Bears from the Kodiak Island group are a separate subspecies due to their being reproductively isolated.

Being normally shy, Brown Bear attacks on man are seldom, but they do happen to attack, it is often with tragic results. They are king in their territory, and no other animal can successfully challenge them except a man with a rifle. They fear no other animal except man.

Several maulings of people occur every year in Alaska, and usually at least one of these attacks is fatal. It is hard to tell when one of these animals is going to attack or just bluffing. They are also able to absorb an unbelievable amount of bullets if surprised and have to be shot in self-defence. There are many stories of Brownies charging or going hundred of yards with a bullet through the heart or lungs.

These animals possess fantastic strength, and a big brownie can carry an 800-pound moose a short distance. They bury their kill to let it ripen. They then lay close by to watch over it and will attack any thing or person who unknowingly walks up near it.

With the exception of the extreme southern Southeastern Islands, Brown Bears can be found in most of Alaska. The smallest population is found in the interior and arctic regions with the largest populations on Kodiak, Admiralty, Baranof and Chichagof Islands.

Depending on the area and season they eat a wide range of animals and plants. They eat fruits, berries and shrubs, and when in season, blueberries, elderberries, salmonberries, high and low bush cranberries. When available animal matter is a minor but important part of their diet. In the coastal areas during the summer and fall salmon make up a major part of their diet, but also eat rodents, insect larvae, and an occasional caribou, deer or moose. They are not choosy; they will eat their own kind, often killing cubs for food when the opportunity arises.

They breed from May to mid July, and 8 to 10 ounce hairless cubs are born in late January or February. Alaskan grizzlies spend almost half their lives in winter dens, entering in late October and coming back out in April or even May.