Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Carnivora
- Family
- Ursidae
- Genus
- Ursus
- Species
- Ursus arctos
Habitat
Stickeen brown bears primarily inhabit coastal rainforests, mountainous regions, and river valleys in southeastern Alaska and western Canada. They prefer areas with dense vegetation, salmon-rich streams, and berry patches, ranging from sea level to alpine zones up to 1,500 meters. These habitats provide cover and food sources year-round.
Diet
Stickeen brown bears are omnivorous, consuming fish like salmon, berries, roots, nuts, and small mammals such as ground squirrels. They exhibit opportunistic feeding behavior, often foraging during dawn and dusk, and are skilled at catching fish in rivers during spawning seasons. In fall, they focus on high-calorie foods to build fat reserves for hibernation.
Behavior
Stickeen brown bears are mostly solitary, except for mothers with cubs, and are active during the day but may become nocturnal near human activity. They are territorial, marking boundaries with scent and vocalizations, and exhibit behaviors like bluff charges when threatened. During winter, they enter dens for hibernation, emerging in spring to forage aggressively.
Hunting
Hunting the Stickeen brown bear, a subspecies of brown bear in southeastern Alaska, is a regulated activity that supports wildlife conservation through fees that fund habitat management and population monitoring. Effective methods include spot-and-stalk approaches in coastal rainforests and along salmon streams, or guided hunts from established outfits, emphasizing wind direction and minimal noise to avoid detection. Use powerful rifles with calibers like .338 Winchester Magnum or larger for reliable penetration, focusing on precise shot placement to the heart-lung area behind the shoulder for a quick, ethical harvest. The prime season runs from late summer through fall, typically September to November, when bears are concentrated on salmon runs for optimal visibility and feeding patterns. Trophy criteria emphasize large skull sizes, with top specimens entering Boone & Crockett records; look for bears with a skull measurement over 28 inches for potential records. Legal hunting is available in specific units of southeastern Alaska, managed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, where draw permits and quotas maintain stable populations, demonstrating how regulated hunting funds programs like Pittman-Robertson to protect habitats and prevent overhunting.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status for brown bears is Least Concern globally, but the Stickeen subspecies faces threats from habitat fragmentation and hunting, with populations stable in protected areas. Conservation efforts focus on managing human-bear conflicts and preserving key habitats.