It was once thought that there were 86 grizzly and brown bear species in North America alone. Today, scientists agree that there is only one brown bear species with a lot of variations (or subspecies)! Brown bears in interior North America are known as grizzly bears, because their brown fur is tipped with white or tan; the word grizzly means sprinkled or streaked with gray. Today, the Zoo is home to two grizzly bear brothers, Scout and Montana who arrived in 2007. The brothers play and enjoy each other’s company, even sleeping together in a tangled heap. Montana is a bit heavier than his brother and likes to spend his time soaking in the pool while Scout is always eager to play.
