It's always hard to judge the scale of photos like this but the skull looks smaller than I'd expect. Are they smaller than I think? Was it larger in person? Or was it a juveline?
It's always hard to judge the scale of photos like this but the skull looks smaller than I'd expect. Are they smaller than I think? Was it larger in person? Or was it a juveline?
Yeah, I usually give something for scale, but.... I believe this was an old female. The skull was smaller than expected, and the molars were well worn. I've handled 500 pound grizzlies, and this was a far cry from that! Maybe 300#?? It's been a long time since I've had to estimate bear weights (for chemical immobilization).
Yes, the lower mandible was how it was explained to me too.
We came across it on a small island called Muskeget, off the west end of Nantucket.
Muskeget is the southernmost breeding ground for grey seals, making it popular with Great White Sharks. Muskeget also features a unique and endemic species colloquially called the “Muskeget Mouse,” which is a beach vole.