How large an area does an individual grizzly bear require?
That depends upon how rich the habitat is in bear foods. Grizzly bears are not territorial. They do not stake out and defend a well-defined area but follow food availability. A food source that is rich in early spring often fizzles out by late spring, causing bears to move to other food sources. As a result, home ranges generally change from year to year. Most bears move through an area of several miles during a 24-hour period, but daily movements may vary widely by season, food availability, age and sex of the bear, security cover, and level of disturbance. The average home range size throughout North America for an adult female grizzly bear is about 70 square miles. Adult males have much larger home ranges, often 300-500 square miles. Male home ranges are generally larger because males travel over a broader area to find females. Female home ranges are usually smaller because the limited mobility of cubs confines them to an area just large enough to supply food, water, and security. R
