Untamed

Full of powerful energy, at the top of the food chain, a gentle giant with the capacity for shredding anything in its path. What am I?

Untamed, 48x60" Acrylic on Canvas

The Grizzly bear is one of North America's largest animals. They possess an impressive size and are capable of running at surprising speeds, up to 30 miles an hour. Like most animals, when threatened the grizzly bear can be an extremely dangerous. They are considered apex predators, even though they are omnivores, eating mostly berries, nuts, fruits, leaves and roots. They can also feed on large animals and love catching salmon as they run upstream for summer spawning.

Given their large size, it makes sense that they require a lot of space. Grizzlies are solitary animals, living in isolated environments that have plenty of food and safe places where they can dig their dens for winter hibernation. They are identifiable by their brown fur, sometimes which can appear to be white-tipped, or grizzled - thus their name.

Due to European settlements, many grizzlies were eliminated from their natural habitat. At its peak, the grizzly population numbered more than 50,000. However, over time westward expansion replaced forests with cities and towns, eliminating large swaths of grizzly habitat. That, along with hunting in the early 20th century, threatened the survival of the grizzly bear. By the 1920s and 1930s, these bears had been reduced to less than 2 percent of their historical range. In the 1960s, it was estimated that there were only 600 to 800 grizzly bears remaining in the wild. In 1975, grizzly bears were listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Untamed, 48x60", artist for scale. Apparently females give birth during this winter rest, often to twins - so...do you see the resemblance?

Despite reaching a threatened status in 1975, grizzlies are now considered a conservation success story. After gaining protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the population of grizzly bears has grown. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established recovery zones for the bears and set out to improve relationships between humans and bears by educating the public about these animals and establishing programs to reimburse ranchers for livestock bears killed. According to The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, grizzly populations can still be found in parts of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington State and are considered one of the most iconic residents of Yellowstone National Park, as well as in the wilds of Canada and Alaska, where hunters are known to still pursue them for big game trophies.

Untamed unisex pullover hoodie, available in all sizes, made from organic cotton and recycled polyester, the perfect eco-friendly choice

I wanted this painting to do this impressive, larger-than-life animal justice, allowing us to feel the wildness and sheer power of the grizzly bear. Bright colours grab your attention, just as I'd imagine seeing one of these grizzly bears in real life would. I hope that when you look at this painting, you are in as much awe of this animal as I am. I encourage you to continue learning about grizzly bears, and if we're lucky - and a very safe distance away - one day we may get to see one with our own eyes.

10% of the proceeds of the sale of this painting will be donated to Grizzly Bear Foundation, the only Canadian charitable organization dedicated solely to the welfare of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos).

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