Grizzly Bear Workshops

A Grizzly Bear Workshop is one of the most exciting things to do in Jackson Hole. 

What Are Grizzly Bears?

Grizzly Bears, as they have become known, migrated to North America over 50,000 years ago.  Grizzlies are a subspecies of the North American Brown Bear which is their scientific name.  Lewis & Clark referred to them as Grizzly largely because of their personality.  Native Americans called them Silver-Tipped bears because of the silvery-grey tips on their fur.  Grizzly Bears have a distinctive hump behind their head and their face and nose are "dished" rather than full like a traditional black bear.  Female grizzly bears weigh between 290 and 400 pounds and typically live 26 years.  Males grizzlies weigh between 400 and 790 pounds and tend to live about 22 years.  Newborn cubs weigh about 1 pound.  Presently there are an estimated 1,500 grizzly bears remaning in all of North America.  

Where Are The Grizzly Bears?

Grizzzly Bears are found throughout Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks and several other places in and around the Jackson Hole Valley.  Grizzly bears require a large territory they call home.  The territory for one bear can spread over 800 square miles making them somewhat hard to find.  Grizzly bears can travel forty miles and more in one day.  Where a bear was spotted yesterday is no guarantee that bear will be in the same place today.

When Is The Best Time To Spot Grizzly Bears?

Grizzly Bears hibernate during the winter months and emerge from their dens in the spring.  The exact date is impossible to predict and depends on winter snowfall, spring temperatures and if the females have newborn cubs and how hungry they are.  Generally the best time to spot grizzly bears is during March, April and into May.  During mid-May most bears have gained back some of the weight lost during hibernation and head for cooler shelter in the forests and backcountry.  The next best time to see grizzly bears is in the late summer and fall when they once again begin building up their weight for hibernation.  Winter comes early in Jackson Hole.  Usually mid-October.

See more grizzly bear images at the Jackson Hole Photography Gallery.

I Want To See A Grizzly Bear.

The link below will take you to more information about how you can attend a Grizzly Bear Workshop.  When to come.  What to bring.  Safety concerns and more.  If you are interested, now is the time to check it out.  Workshops are limited to very small groups.