Barren-ground grizzly bears, or Ursus Arctos, are a large brown bear and the second largest bear species in Manitoba. Grizzly bears have very distinctive physical characteristics that separate them apart from other bears in the province. They have large muscle masses, or humps, on the back of their shoulders, a concave face, ears that are round and spaced apart, and large claws, 5-10cm, that do not retract. The most common coloring of grizzly bear is a dark brown base with lighter brown tips, giving them a grizzled look. However, this can vary and grizzly bears have color phases that can range from black to blonde. The profile of a grizzly bear is quite large, as they can weigh between 322lbs and 840lbs, depending on their gender and health, and their hind legs will be lower than the large shoulder hump.
Grizzly bears are solitary omnivores that have a life expectancy of up to 30 years, with females living on average 13 years and males living on average only 2.6 years. During the winter months grizzly bears den for 4-7 months, losing 16-37% of their body weight during this season. Once a female grizzly bear has reached maturity, around the age of 8, she can have a litter every 2-3 years. Barren-ground grizzly bears have large home ranges and in Manitoba are commonly found in areas with little to no tress, tall shrub riparian areas, shorelines or eskers.